Jeremiah Chapter 17

The effects of unrepentant sin has a domino effect that simply does not vanish.

The Jews of Jeremiah’s day were not repentant and repercussions lurked everywhere! Any dreamful thought of changing to follow God, and thus receive the blessings of obedience, was a mere mirage in their desert life of deadly drought.

Verse 1 informs us, Judah’s sin was engraved in their hearts, not a surface recognition, but deep embedding. God had recorded their sin with a writing pen of iron, with the “point of a diamond” on their soiled hearts.

An iron pen or stylus with a diamond tip was implemented for writing on clay tablets in this day. This was just one method of data recording. The technique used to document the book of Jeremiah involved the usage of a reed pen applied to a papyrus roll. Jeremiah’s scribe, Baruch, likely used an ink made of a soot mixture. Sturdy leather tablets also served scribes.

The pen Jeremiah mentions is a metaphor to describe how God was convicting their hearts. You can almost feel this diamond stylus digging deeply into the sensitive tissue of the body.

Verse 2 digs extensively into the heart of things by addressing their sacrificed children, offered to the Asherim idols. These precious young ones were burned in massacre-type worship to their false goddesses. Asherim was a their mother goddess or their “queen of heaven.”

We might ask, now how could anyone burn their children in the name of religion? To answer this, one must understand that worshipping idols places people in bondage, a state in which they can no longer distinguish between good and evil. They live in a world of make-believe. Their conscience speaks the active words of murder. Their lying mind says, appease the evil spirits of death to achieve blessings of desire. Though, we know, they are literally sacrificing their little ones to demons. In reality, it is satan telling them to murder. He is the voice of every idol; and the voice of every distorted belief system. He is the one who incites religious bondage that often justifies all sin, including murder. It is his voice behind the saying, “No one has the right to judge you.” He misuses the Scripture to incite licentiousness (no rules). This mentality is condemned throughout the Bible, including in Jeremiah. Jude is another book that exposes the wickedness of people who justify sin in the name of licentiousness. Jesus Christ exposed the evil of sinful compromise in five of the churches addressed in Revelation. They were condemned for not judging sin in the church.

In today’s world, babies are still massacred, arms and legs torn away from the torso for easy removal. A Sopher clamp is the instrument made for this procedure. It is surgical, sharp teeth pliers. It clamps onto a baby’s leg, arm, or head. The abortionist twists a body part with his Sopher until it tears away from the torso. The parts of the precious baby are then placed on a table to see if the entire body corpse lays there in pieces. It is not good to leave a body part behind. Of course, I say this facetiously.

Some babies are stabbed in the head so a sucking device can be inserted. This removes their brains, shrinking the head for easy withdraw.

Young children, in the womb, are also burned to death with saline solution.

One abortion doctor in Texas was known to rip off the heads of babies, with his bare hands, who were born alive.

All this performed in the name of the sexual gods of the new age. This all is part of sensual bondage.

I ask you, if abortion is so wonderful, then why is not explained and shown by the media?

Praise God all sins can be forgiven in Christ Jesus.

Verse 4 reminds the people of Israel that all they possess, befalls from the One who owns the cattle on a thousand hills. Everything we possess is provided by God’s benevolent hand. God gave the land of Israel to the Jews out of His love for them. Since God granted them the power to drive out Israel’s former inhabitants from the land, the Jews did not have to build houses or clear the land for agricultural purposes.

This later generation harbors ingratitude for God’s blessings of land ownership, and now the people are going to lose everything. Giving worshipful thanks to God continually, maintains a grateful heart that receives multiple blessings from the Almighty, including a place to live and food on the table.

When God originally brought the Hebrews to Israel, He allowed them to remove the pagan people. The Canaanites, who were driven from the Promised Land, never gave thanks to the living and true God for all their blessings. And now the Jews are not worshipping God rightly and now they too will be removed from their Holy Land.

The end of verse 4, reminds us how much God hates sin, as His anger “will burn forever.”

Sin is never to be taken lightly; Christ had to die for every filthy sin. When we engage in wrongdoing, it is like slapping our holy God in the face. If we glory in sin, in its actual practice, we are angering the God of righteousness.

Chapter 17 holds two key verses that are quoted often. One is verse 5, “Thus says the LORD, cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the Lord.” This is significantly powerful as this is the downfall of many believers who listen to, and follow wicked mankind and what he artfully produces for deception sake and this includes what is supposedly new. Men want what is new. They run to this and that and say, “This is new,” yet, in a few months, it is not new and something else is new. Silly man has no common sense or righteous wisdom. In the Bible, in Ecclesiastics 1:10, man is ridiculed for getting excited if he notices something that is new when it is not. In America, something very old, like a song, will be re-sung by the latest group of craze, and every young person will think it is new; however, the song is very old. If you tell kids a song they love was a song sung decades ago, they cannot comprehend it. They are offended by such a revelation. They were sure it was new.

The same musical love themes and feelings, may have a new band, a new wild beat, but the basic messages have been told throughout the centuries—Boy meets girl or girl meets boy.

Common sense and wisdom only arise from what is tremendously ancient—the Bible. It provides purifying messages that renew the heart every day.

Our trust must be held in the old Bible, in the LORD God alone, who has always been, who is our complete truth, and who never fails. Our frontal reasoning skills need to be operating continually so we never forsake or compromise truth.

Please remember, frail, contemporary men can never satisfy our needs for immutable truth. I want my eyes turned upon Christ and Him alone, only He is the spotless, holy standard! Failure is men’s destiny apart from Jesus Christ.

Various verses in the Bible warn us concerning men, including Galatians 1:10. Here, we read that it is sinful to please men! And if we are trying to please men, we cannot be loving servants of Christ.

John 2:23-25 informs us of the wisdom Jesus Christ exercised as God. In these verses, people were believing in Him; yet, He would not entrust Himself to anyone for “He knew all men” and “what was in man.” Peter thought Christ could surely trust in him, being he was always faithful in ministry; but Christ, after His arrest, revealed to Peter his folly of denial.

John 12:42-43 addresses the two-faced ways of believers. The Christians referenced here, refused to tell others of their faith. The priority that controlled them was man-pleasing. Therefore, they wouldn’t acknowledge Christ openly. They could not stomach rejection, being cowardly. God reveals, “They loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.” This is true of contemporary believers who feel they must be doing what the world does to gain its approval and acceptance. These types of people would never lay their lives down for the Savior who hates all sin and compromise. However, Christ declares, if we deny Him, He will deny us.

Recently, a famous man rescued a trapped family from a burning truck—the parents and their two children. The family refuses to call the man who rescued them, “a hero.” Originally they were willing! However, they received death threats from the black community that made their whole beings tremble. This led to their complete silence regarding the matter.

Their rescuer is unjustly hated by flash mobs of the black community for protecting his neighborhood from black thieves.

Even churches compromise to please the men who love this wicked world, attempting to get them to walk in church doors, even though the church is to be a fellowship of the body of believers.

Many pastors prepare for a church service, pondering, how can it gratify the unsaved and lukewarm believer? This, rather than, is it all according to Scripture?

Every action of a pastor should be pleasing before holy God, who is calling His church to worship.

It can be a blasphemous thing to have unbelievers singing His praises, taking communion, etc. These people are of the evil one and we have nothing in common with them—2 Corinthians chapter 6—until they truly repent. They have no concept of what they are doing, and it cannot be pleasing before God, whom they are separated from because of their sin.

Yes, people certainly can visit a church to learn how to be saved, but the church service itself is to feed believers for continual growth, not cater to those, who, in no way, shape or form represent the body of Christians. Pastors should not try to involve them in the worship aspect.

I am not advocating pastors should not speak the saving Gospel message at the close of the service. They should! However, there must be some lines drawn. We are not to be one with the world or our community. Remember John didn’t want anyone entering into the house church who did not abide in the teachings of Christ—2 John 9-10.

Community is the “buzz” word in fellowships today. Yet, we are not of this world or our community in a true, spiritual sense. We are called to come out from them. We can never believe we are one with those who do not know Christ; those who speak with worldly terminology, and the world listens to them; 1 John 4:5.

Yes, we do desire to draw them to the Savior and that is part of going out into the world with the Gospel.

And when we reach out to the unsaved, we do not place ourselves above them, as we are simply and humbly saved by grace. Howbeit, God has drawn a deep line of separation that is ignored today.

Verse 6 continues to explain the consequences of trusting in man, acknowledging there is no productive aspect in life when one does. No special blessings arise from the LORD God, only inward emptiness and disillusionment in striving after that which holds no eternal value. Desert waste is all that awaits such a one. God knows if we are striving after the things of this temporary world, He will have to withdraw the blessings of discernment in accordance.

I could write of men’s selfish, pipe-dreams forever; but the point is, trying to achieve in this world by listening to and trusting in sinful man’s godless strategies, never brings everlasting rewards. It simply buries one in a wasteland of despair.

Psalm 118:6-9, serves to enlighten our hearts in respect to, not pleasing and trusting in man. It warns of the futility of placing our confidence in man, rather than God.

Verses 7 and 8, back in Jeremiah, present the simplistic key to all fulfillment—trust God and all blessings will flow.

By obeying and resting in God, a man or woman may not come to gain much materially, but spiritually, all is gained—a life of fulfillment—a life overflowing with the wholesome waters of God. Verse 8 promises, they will resemble a tree planted by the waters, that spreads forth its roots to garner the liquid nourishment. Deadly drought never reaches it. Its leaves remain jade, glistening in dayspring’s illumination. Its glorious display is its ever-bearing, tasteful fruit of holy righteousness.

Those who live wisely, feed upon the Tree of Life—Jesus Christ.

Verses 7 and 8 reiterates Psalm 1, verses 2 and 3.

Verse 9, is the second key verse in this chapter of Jeremiah. This has been quoted forever in time, “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick (or wicked); who can understand it!” Christ taught us the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak—Matthew 26:41. The flesh represents the heart of man that desires all that is evil. This wicked heart is deceptive and will cover-up or justify, hiding the truth … no holy motive exists.

It’s amazing how we, as believers, can justify ourselves when we choose not to obey God’s Word. It all stems from that deceptive heart that desires fleshly gratification.

I have been a believer for a great many years and I suppose I have heard nearly all sins justified by so-called believers, including murder and pedophilia. I have just stood literally in shock by what some, so-called Christians, have stated who attend Bible believing churches. Two of them should have suffered the death penalty or prison.

I personally know my heart is very ill, as God continually shows new areas that I need to make more Christ-like. Nothing in God’s Word is to be rushed over; it is to be prayed over. Praying, “Change me,” in this area or that is a continual plea of mine, as I read through the Scriptures or become convicted by the Holy Spirit throughout the day. I can’t wait to shed this body of sin!

Verse 10, should cause us to walk in all uprightness; God is right here, always searching our heart and mind for our motives in all actions. He gives each of us according to our ways or actions. We all reap what we sow in one way or another. If we sit before some production that represents the world and its ways, we reap the thoughts that tag along after we depart. They return to our mind’s dwelling file, where inserted … difficult to remove.

A young radio pastor explained how he had attended a movie in another town so no one would spot him. He was told the flick was good, but upon leaving, realized his mistake in watching it! It was not edifying and pure. He was bothered and convicted for a week or two following.

As a teen and young person, I listened to rock music, and once and while a tune will come to my mind and I have to check it, cancel it out, and then insert a lovely hymn, prayer, or Bible section to dwell on.

A friend was recently telling me how she’ll start humming something and stop herself suddenly, realizing that it is an old rock song that she does not want running through her mind.

The Partridge

We see the Partridge referred to in verse 11.

It is used as an illustration to teach us reality; God uses a great deal of His creation designing to install wisdom into mankind throughout His Holy Bible.

I shot the header photo, of this lesson, of the ugliest Partridge in the world, in Maui, Hawaii. After photographing it, I couldn’t figure the thing out. I emailed bird experts and received no answer. I emailed someone in Hawaii, but they were identity-clueless. However, they were most gracious and kind and held a desire to assist.

Not until I saw the flanks of a beautiful Partridge did I define the species (I hope). I do not know what happened to this species that was stationed around the Haleakia volcano area of Maui. (Photo below)

This bird may be molting (exchanging feathers—old for new), but still, it is the ugliest molter I have ever witnessed. It is definitely of the Galliformes or fowl family that includes the Partridge.

Now, there is another bird of the poultry family called a Guin and it too is ugly, though not quite as hideous as the bird in the photo. It is slightly similar. It is a hybrid of a chicken and guinea fowl.

The Partridge family consists of many different species, all masterly crafted by our Creator.

The Partridge is native to Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. A few of these Old World birds were introduced to America in the 1920s to delight hunters with their tasty meat. Currently, they are hunted for food provision in various states.

God is gracious to create fowl meat and eggs for men’s tummies. The Partridge eggs can be consumed like chicken eggs. They are smaller than chicken eggs and supply a milder flavor.

The Partridge is a ground bird that rarely flies. When it does, it mostly navigates in low, flyer mode. Its cousin, the Chicken, owns a slower, throttle, soar speed, compared to many birds. Chickens are not talented in the realm of distant flight. They can fly into trees and roost there. It is simply about flapping the wings and moving about, lift off is not too exciting, just 4 to 10 feet into the air. With the Partridge, it can navigate perfectly straight, and exhort soaring abilities when the need arises. It flies like a non-poultry bird.

Partridges are able to walk with ease on tree and bush branches.

The main cry of this ave is a clear whistle.

These cute birds mate for life, being monogamous by God’s design. The female prepares a nest composed of grasses on the ground or on a low surface. They are noted for their large grass nests.

Mom hen lays ten to eighteen eggs. The father may assist in the incubation and hatching process. The hatched young will follow their parents until mature.

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God informs us in verse 11 of the Partridge’s desire. Most likely this references the Sand or Stone Partridge of Israel that lays five to seven eggs. Fantastic Sand Partridge video by Lironziv:

The LORD has imparted in the Partridge family, a shady heart! The hunted Partridge will hatch the eggs of other bird species. The female will snatch eggs; this according to ornithology facts of observance. And this what God is referring to in this verse.

Birding info quote: “The many eggs that Partridges are commonly found hatching do not all belong to the Partridges. The animal normally lays between six and twelve eggs. There has been evidence indicating that the bird can be an intrusive bird in that it steals other bird eggs.”

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Now some birds will willingly place their eggs in bird nests (hosts’ nests) for other moms to raise. The female Cuckoo Bird is known to place her eggs in other nests. She would never think to be domestic and build her own nest. She will eat the eggs of other birds and then place her egg substitutes in the nests of tender-hearted mother birds (who know how to count), ensuring they will be receiving pampering care. If she were to place some of her eggs in a Partridge nest, that always lays out a welcome mat for other eggs, they would be gleefully hatched by the Partridge. But these foreign young will abandon the Partridge as soon as possible to be with its own wild kind. This, of course, would break the heart of Mom Partridge who will steal eggs and welcomes intruder eggs, only to be disappointed.

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This all appears bizarre! And this is what God is getting at, the oddity or foolishness of the thing—birds stealing eggs from fellow fowl and reaping the consequence of a broken heart when reality strikes …. the orphans not wanting anything to do with their adoptive parents after they have nurtured them. God has created animals to dwell with their own kind.

Bird hearts do break. I observed a mother duck morn deeply when her young chick was eaten by a predator. She swam around crying, as if she was going to go insane with grief. A Canada Goose, with a tender heart, tried to befriend her and swam beside her in an attempt to comfort.

God explains in the book of Job that He manufactures some animals to simply make us laugh. Others, He creates to teach our minds wisdom, as with the greedy Partridge. Greed never pays. God makes sure there are hefty consequences to such actions.

Aves that leave their young, by means of easy disposal in other nests, can teach human mothers how not to treat their sweet infants. Placing children in daycare centers for easy disposal—to avoid having to grab the time to train them in the righteous way they should mature—is unkind and insensitive. If properly disciplined, including spankings for misbehavior and rebellion, children rightly bless the home with their presence.

A few human parents, who hold no love for their young, will abandon them altogether. They want to do their own thing without any kids tagging along. This was a case for several children who were permanently dropped off at a local children’s home because the parents wanted to travel to an exotic place.

I knew a mother who permanently abandoned her beautiful, two young daughters so she could have fun on the town.

Verse 11, testifies to the fact, God will not bless the greedy heart of man that obtains riches without working to gain them. He does not bless unjust gain or lazy gain.

I can think of certain ones who divorce, believing they can achieve riches by finding a more desirable mate who walks around with a big wad of money in their pocket.

Their heart is black as coal. They do not care if they have a faithful mate when their heart turns to greed, vain imaginings and action. Right after filing for divorce, the sly plotter will rob the home. Of course, they do this when their unsuspecting spouse is gone for a period of time, knowing they can take what they want, everything being in both names.

I knew two women who suffered such an offense. They were left with little, being nothing could be done; legalities shut the door on them.

Of course, the mate who robs, has hired a heartless lawyer who implements the dishonest ways of the legal system to swindle most everything in the divorce process.

The scheme continues as the vile, divorcing conspirator attempts to find a rich, well-to-do substitute. However, I have never seen this succeed. Their wickedly laid strategies eventually produce a desert waste, as stated in verse 6.

Years ago my husband, Al, when a correctional administrative lieutenant at a prison, was dealing with an inmate offender, a con man, who was infamous for being a polygamist, accumulating rich women as wives and then stealing much of what they possessed. His strange obsession incited him to court those women who were recently widowed, hurting, and well-to-do. He would lay the tenderest, comforting lines on them to apprehend. Maneuvering his various wives eventually upset the cart in more ways than one. Who could balance such a thing for long in conniving stealth? One by one a wife would discover another wife.

This incarcerated polygamist would write tender letters to unsuspecting widows to snag money from them while in prison. Being behind bars for polygamy didn’t deter him one bit!

He deceived one lady using the inmate phone, to get her money.

Al explained to her his indictment, but it was still a laborious task for him to get it through her head. She had bought all the swindling lines, had fallen in love with him, and would not believe the truth. She would not cooperate, though she was being financially swindled by a prisoner.

This con was eventually released from prison and he returned to quick cash scheming through polygamy plotting, thinking the second time would spin the wheel of success. Well, I don’t mean to surprise you, but he did get caught again, this time being wanted in several states.

Though lasting success always eluded him, the dough prospect kept him running to the next widow. God often intervenes in the legal process so unjust fortunes sink into desert sands.

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The lottery promise also leads to desert waste. Many gamble away the money needed to sustain a family in hopes of snaring the 12 million dollar jackpot of fast and easy money. They are sure the next ticket will lead to bars of gold.

Of course, there are a few winners, though the vast majority never secure a dime.

One of the few lottery winners did move to a neighborhood adjacent to ours, where a dream home was built. To the person’s misfortune, everything was lost, due to poor planning and just spending—spending.

The Lottery victimizes countless people from all sectors of society. Though of course, they are not without sin! These deceived ones lust after green bucks and it’s all about satisfying their avarice hands. Some people go beyond the lottery, placing themselves in bondage to slot machines and racing.

Lottery and Gambling Facts:

(Edited and condensed from an article addressing gambling, by George Caylor.)

If you take all the members of the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines, there are six times that many young people addicted to gambling!

Where video poker is legal, players are losing their pension money, their homes, and their savings. In every town where gambling becomes legal, pawn-shops abound, crime increases, suicide is usual, and neighborhoods go down the tubes.

If you win the lottery, what besides money do you win?

Let me tell you of a personal experience. Three years ago, my Philadelphia client Steve came into my office and told me—six months ago, his brother Bob won a State Lottery for $5 million!”

“Well, it’s not $5 million in cash, but an annual income of about $180,000 per year after taxes. And Bob doesn’t have anything to invest.”

“How does he not have anything left?!”

“Let me tell you the whole story. Before Bob won the lottery, he was healthy, ran marathons, had a wonderful wife, three sweet boys and a good job. Everything’s changed.”

“After the win, Bob became such a jerk at work that they fired him. He made new friends who were cocaine users. He stopped running marathons. He became such a jerk at home, that his wife left him and took the boys with her.

And if Bob leaves his house, there are hoodlums driving up and down his street ready to break Bob’s legs. He hasn’t been paying his gambling bills, and the annual lottery annuity doesn’t cover them.”

Last February Steve was back in my office. My first question was “Has Bob recovered?”

Steve looked down: “I was Bob’s executor after he shot himself Christmas day.”

Final game tally – Bob lost his life. Before he “won the game,” Bob had everything a man could want, he had won life’s many blessings. The effects of winning that lottery cost him everything a man can lose.

After that episode, I did some research on lottery winners and discovered that Bob was no exception to the rule.

Most are stone-broke within three years, many are dead. It’s as if the lottery check comes with a contract that states, “I hereby relinquish all.”

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Of course, examples of this truth, exposed by God, could go on and on. The point is, trying to achieve in this world by listening to sinful man and trusting in him, never builds everlasting rewards. Becoming rich and successful outside of God’s plan of placing Christ and others first, can be deadly.

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Praise is set forth in verse 13, returning to Jeremiah, worship offered to God, the only hope for Israel. This holy, uplifted acclaim to God is undefiled and perfect in truth. Second John emphasizes that we only walk in the truths of the Bible, and reject all other teachings, and all teachers who would teach contrariwise. We learn in this little book that if we abide in the doctrines of Christ, that we have both the Father and the Son.

The Scriptures proclaim truth is everything. God’s Word of wisdom is always “real time,” it is for every moment in every person’s life.

There are grave consequences set on men who teach anything or write anything contrary.

Jeremiah only wrote what was correct in the eye of the LORD God, as did all Bible authors.

We also note in verse 13, that the names of those who forsake God, will be “written down.”

Revelation 20:11-13 reveals the lasting truth of this—a day is looming when the books will be open and everyone judged according to their deeds.

Matthew 12:36-37 severely warns that every careless word that people speak, they shall give accounting for in the Day of Judgment.

We, as believers, will have our works tested by the fire of God; 1 Corinthians 3:12f. It will be a test of motive and action, not according to a popularity chart.

Turning back to Jeremiah, God’s curse is pronounced for disobedience, for forsaking the LORD, “The Fountain of Living Waters.” When men act according to what is right in their own eyes, they forsake “The Fountain of Living Waters.”

We know Jesus Christ is the living water, who arrived in the flesh of man, John 1:14, disclosing the relevancy of this verse. Christ came and made completely real the attributes of God that were recorded in the Old Testament. In John chapter 4, Christ told the woman at the well, that He was the living water and He is the water of eternal life. In John 7:37-38, we further note, Christ is the living water who truly satisfies spiritual thirst. (See also Revelation 7:17 that reassures true believers that Christ, who leads us to living fountains, will wipe away the tears from our eyes in heaven.)

We are wholly privileged to be living in New Testament times; whereby, we more fully understand these attributes that have been displayed before us in the person of Christ.

Moving into verse 14, we read of God’s healing attribute. Christ came to earth and healed many and is still doing so today. Jeremiah recognized only true healing could come from God, and that being spiritual healing as well. It is a blessed thing to pray for prospering health for fellow, true believers, as we note in 3 John verse 2.

We are assured in this Jeremiah verse, that God is Savior! Jeremiah sought him as Savior requesting, “Save me and I will be saved.”

Christ died on the tree of crucifixion to save man from his sin. He also saved Jeremiah from the sins he committed on the earth. We know no one lived a sinless life and Jeremiah cries out for God’s redemption in this book.

Persecution is what we witness in verse 15. The wicked Jews ask Jeremiah sarcastically, “Where is the Word of the LORD? Let us see it now!” This is a prevision to what Christ endured from sinful men when He came to the earth. Men wanted Christ to display many miracles to prove He was God. He presented countless miracles, but wicked men still would not believe and demanded more. The hearts of the Jews held the same hardness as the Jews in Jeremiah’s day.

It is despairing that these Jews, whom Jeremiah loves and wants to preserve, hate him so. They are daring him with, if the calamity is to come to pass, as you say, then bring it on!

Tenderness counteracted this cruel, sarcastic verbiage. Jeremiah replied with, he didn’t look forward to this day of judgment, knowing his heart was full of concern. It was full of concern for them.

We can see this attitude displayed today with those who stand on the Bible and want to warn others to live pure lifestyles to assure blessings. Pure Christians do not want people entering into promiscuous relationships that may produce the deadly disease of AIDS. And they do not want people suffering with other sexual diseases so they encourage abstinence till marriage.

Suicide is prominent among those who engage in the lifestyle of death and those who become bound in other types of promiscuity.

The facts: “Each year, one out of every three gay, lesbian or bisexual students in the San Francisco Unified School District reportedly, attempts suicide. For transgender students, that number jumps to nearly one in two.”

Promiscuous sex leads to suicide among our young: “Sexually active girls are nearly three times more likely to attempt suicide than girls who are pure.”

“Sexually active teenage boys are eight times more likely to attempt suicide than boys who are pure.”

Why not warn against following the crowd in sinful activity that produces guilt, bondage, depression, diseases, and death? This is part of loving one another.

Why should this exposure cause people to be persecuted? It is because today’s culture is all about death and destruction, not loving one another as oneself.

People who stand for purity and oppose homosexuality in the military are being persecuted and are being asked to resign in the name of homophobia and intolerance. They are cruelly being told they cannot stand with the natural family and purity until marriage. Our presidential administration sees the Biblical stand as illegal and worthy of just punishment.

In London, not long ago, a pastor was arrested who was warning, in a caring manner, of the earthly and eternal consequences of the lifestyle of death so repentance might take place unto salvation for those who listened. The hate that was cast upon him led to him being arrested by the bobbies.

At various times, we need to be reassured that the LORD is upholding our hands … our being; Isaiah 41:13. Continually reaching heavenward can maintain our alertness to His presence felt in every peril of persecution.

We carry with us the privilege of being able to cry out our hearts to God at anytime. We can request God to encourage us with His steadfast and everlasting love. We can intercede for His guidance and strength when our pain is immense. The Bible commands that we pray without ceasing. We can continually talk to the LORD about our hurts, temptations and disappointments in unceasing fellowship. He is able to restore us and grant us peace and deliverance. He never grows tired of restoring our souls.

Jeremiah needed God’s assurances for standing on holy righteousness, while warning the people of their sin. He stood alone, therefore he perpetually needed God’s love and strength placed upon him. He required renewal admist rejection and sarcasm.

Jeremiah moves toward faith restoration in this prayerful setting of desperation and terror. He must be reassured that God is by His side. Jeremiah speaks to the LORD, as to a nearby friend.

In the first line of verse 16, Jeremiah reminds God, in his time of despairing, that he has been a shepherd to these people. He has been their spiritual instructor who has taught them the ways of God.

(Godly men can represent God as His teaching shepherds, as did Jeremiah in times of old. If you turn to John 21:15-17, you will note that Jesus is exhorting Peter to be a shepherd to God’s followers. He is to instruct, love and nurture believers in the ways and teachings of Jesus Christ.

Shepherds, also called pastors or elders, are those who watch over the believing flock or church without being dictatorial; 1 Peter 5:2-3. This can involve a multitude of responsibilities which are explained in Timothy, Titus, Ephesians chapter 4, etc.)

Continuing further in verse 16, Jeremiah informs God of his obedience and dedication in this time of dread. He almost seems to be on the verge of panic in verse 17. His enemies are encompassed about. How many of us have been here? I certainly have.

With a positive, inserted note, we are reassured that God is Jeremiah’s refuge. God is his “hope in the day of evil.” The LORD God is a refuge to all believers who dwell in the fire of persecution. In America, we do not feel the persecution as those in other countries who have to depend upon Christ to shelter them every minute.

It has been reported that the unregistered churches of China surpass the Bible churches in America. There are possibly over 100 million born again believers in this Chinese land of little freedom, who are all regarded as criminals for loving the LORD Jesus Christ.

Christians in many nations are imprisoned or murdered for their faith; this is especially true in Muslim lands where beheading Christians is commonplace.

In verse 18, Jeremiah calls for the Jews’ destruction. He is not feeling love for his enemies here, but wants their evil intentions extinguished by the hand of God and soon. He wants righteousness to triumph over evil. He also acknowledges, all vengeance belongs to the LORD.

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Continuing on course, we begin a new section in verse 19. Jeremiah is again called to open-air evangelism. This bold preacher is to stand in the public gate proclaiming God’s Words. Jeremiah was to go where these unredeemed ones gathered, just as present day evangelists are to present the Gospel where the unsaved dwell. Jeremiah is to speak in the public gates of Jerusalem where people went about their business.

We read here that this is no “tickle your ears” type message. All The exhortations spoken through Jeremiah actually flow from the mouth of God, who plays no fun games with His Jewish creation.

This is another heavy-duty sermon, sin exposure. An exhortation that calls out to the Hebrews to abandon their greed.

God commands that they cast their business aside on the Sabbath, and simply worship Him with no desire for lucrative profit. God is addressing everyone, from the lowly in status to the kings of Judah.

Turning this today-ward, we witness the church desiring to appease the selfish, self-centered community that surrounds us. The church believes it must make everyone feel they are still attached to the local mall when in church. Therefore, fellowships now sell things, including food and drink, to please the materialistic man who loves to spend money at every turn.

Some churches even have small coffee restaurants. One church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has a regular restaurant.

Various churches engage in raffles, selling crafts, church stocks … you just name it … simply to please and gratify the flesh that craves shopping and never wants to stop. Leaders attempt to make it look spiritual, stating it is for the financial profit of the church.

The only example of giving that is true to the Word, is believers placing money in an offertory and not being coerced into it through having an item of desire flashed before them in church to entice them to remove some cash from their pocketbook.

In the days of the temple, the Jews also placed money in a box, as viewed with the poor widow who gave all she had. She gave more than the richest of men because she gave from her heart that held a true love for God.

Years ago, most all businesses were closed on Sunday in respect to the day of worship. I am old enough to remember. Now, anything goes in our churches and society. Though we are grateful for those businesses that display the closed sign in the window.

The disrespect we view today for worship, must make our Savior weep.

Turning back to Jeremiah, viewing verses 25-26, God makes a promise, informing the Jews that if they repent from selling on the Sabbath, then He will bless the city of Jerusalem forever. He states kings and princes will come riding on horses and chariots through the gates of the city. Further, offerings and sacrifices will be brought to the House of the LORD from areas outside of Jerusalem.

Now, we know, this great day of obedience did not come to pass. The southern kingdom refused to repent. Obedience will surface one day; God will mightily bless Jerusalem for obedience. It will transpire in a most glorious way, during the millennial reign of Christ.

Turning to Nehemiah 13:15-18, will assist in understanding God’s heart. In this passage, God is exposing, through Nehemiah, that the Jews, who have returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity, have returned to their ancestral, sinful ways. They are engaging in the fleshly desire for wealth and prestige, and are buying and selling on the Sabbath to accomplish this. They want money exchanged every day of the year to please their piggish eyes. They cannot even set aside one day a week for Almighty God who provides all their necessities.

This is a history lesson of condemnation. Nehemiah is sharply preaching to the Jewish people—having descended from the Jews who lived in Jeremiah’s day. Nehemiah is discoursing on pre-captivity activities, referencing the sins that leveled Jerusalem, because there was no desire to put aside the ways of the world to worship the LORD.

Now, these returned ones are again engaging in the same dealings that landed their grandparents in exodus. Nehemiah exposes the calamity that befell their ancestors through the Babylon invasion for a present day warning.

Jesus physically revealed His anger with the Jews in the same vein centuries later. They were once again engaging in business, in and around the temple. They were carrying merchandise through it—Mark 11:16. Jesus used force to vent His dissatisfaction with the people.

God’s anger is unleashed in verse 27, in Jeremiah, letting it be known a fire will be kindled in the gates, in all Jerusalem, and it will not be quenched if the buying and selling on the Sabbath continues.

When we arrive at chapter 52, we will view the fulfillment of these verses, when Jerusalem, including the temple, are razed.

What might God be thinking when observing the wayward ways of His children in our era? He must surely be angered at the lack of respect for holiness in the church realm, including the handling of money.

Though everyone suffers the consequences of all disrespect for houses of worship, many are blind to the belittling and casting aside of unadulterated worship. Contemporary-ism father’s the modern methodology of new perspectives of new attitudes of tolerance. And now neo-orthodoxy is riding in on the coattails of these new perspectives, which simply humanizes Christianity into “anything goes.” It refuses to take Scripture literally.

Its sneaky promoters use the most sacred language to deceive, but they mean the opposite of their words. If you listen with discernment for an extended period, you understand they truly do not take Scriptural disobedience seriously or its preordained, eternal consequences. They take Christianity and turn it into a confusing mess leading many to hell’s fire. Karl Barth and Dietrich Bonhoeffer are a couple of the fathers of this diabolical heresy. These are the same types of heresies that were neo-orthodox in Jeremiah’s day. There is nothing new in the way of liberal theology or compromise. The word “compromise,” of course, is too simplified and too pointed for the theological elite who must dress it up with impressive language of theology that leads to the writing of endless books and articles to justify everything in two-faced wordiness.

What is our out? The straight and narrow path that never changes. Yes, the heritage of the Scriptures that never falters. This is the heritage passed down to us by God for our blessed good.

Jeremiah Chapter 18

This chapter begins with God telling Jeremiah to go to the potter’s house and there He would announce His Words to him. In verse 2, Jeremiah heeds the command and travels to a potter’s house to watch the artisan spin and work his hands over the wet, formable clay. Jeremiah closely observes the steps of the thrower’s creation.

Unfortunately, the forming piece on the wheel becomes unpliable and spoiled (like Israel). In spite of this, the potter simply refashions the vessel on the wheel; one with green strength (pottery term meaning durable) and formed to the satisfaction of the potter; verse 4. And, no doubt, to the delight of Jeremiah.

Isaiah 64:8 declares, “But now, oh LORD, you are our Father, we are the clay, and thou the potter; and we are the work of your hands.”

It is quite the education to observe crafty people produce clay works before your eyes.

Our son, Joshua, has a potter’s wheel and I have often witnessed the clay spoiled and cast away—becoming completely unusable. He has formed many unique and splendid vessels; yet, they are usually fashioned after some disappointments with mushy clay that did not always yield to his will.

God uses this visual illustration to reveal He is the ultimate potter of Israel; the nation is in His forming hands, just as we are. He, being the ultimate molder, is free to destroy the clay or dust which He composed. And God is kindly mindful that we are but dust; 103:14. He rules over all the human clay of the earth, and His ultimate purposes will always be performed over the will of rebellious clay.

Yes, the human pot can plead his or her case, but the ultimate decision concerning the vessel, is determined by God; no other.

Romans chapter 9, more fully explains this; specifically verses 20-21. God manufactures vessels for honorable and dishonorable use and we have no right to question Him in these actions. Moreover, we have no right to ask of God, why He formed us the way He did. A person deformed is not to question, “Why is this?” We have no right to question Him about any of His creation. He did not choose to make everyone gorgeous, intelligent and wealthy. Thank goodness! How in the world could we learn to truly reveal love and charity if everyone was perfect in every way to behold?

Back in Jeremiah, verses 6-11, we read of the reigning supremacy of God. He has every right to do as He chooses with His people. Judah was being held and configured by the Creator of all. Within this text, strong, authoritative; yet loving language assails us … He will allow no mere men to argue with Him! Men can repent and be saved, but sinful men cannot attack the God of true justice. Due to the LORD’s overruling authority, He can destroy any nation at will and He will do so to Israel.

These verses appear to reiterate the truths found in Isaiah 40:12f, which explain how God establishes nations and rulers, and then destroys them at will.

Verse 8, in Jeremiah, addresses God being willing to withdraw evil if a wayward nation renounces its evil deeds. This is exactly what happened with Nineveh and this was a Gentile city. God is kind, availing graciousness to any who choose to repent. And He supplies opportunities, leaving men without excuses.

Included here is God’s desire to bless nations, but when they turn from Him; He recants on His good intentions. Of course, this occurs with individuals as well. God informed David, He held many blessings for him, but because he sinned with Bathsheba, they were withdrawn; 2 Samuel 12:8f.

In verse 11 of Jeremiah, God announces He “will frame evil against Israel” unless she repents and turns to “good.” Jeremiah is told to convey this message to the Jews. God is not sneaky or stealthy. He has nothing to hide. He has no shady agendas or secret messages. No one has to obtain to a certain level of maturity to find a certain truth in the Bible. It is all there, laid bare, for all to read and learn.

Some false cults claim you can achieve certain spiritual, enlightenment levels if you strive to meet their goals or demands; whereby, you can receive special messages from religious leaders. This is how they can enslave followers to do their bidding, even sexual compliance. This is the way of satan who is not about being forthright in all things. He is the deceiver and father of lies.

God exposes excuses in verse 12 for disobedience, knowing the people were languishing and saying, “It’s hopeless.” It’s like believers negatively stating today, “The Word of God is too hard to follow, who can do it? God knows we can’t obey everything.”

No one can incite such excuses before God and get away with it. God reveals the truth when He asserts they are acting according to the stubbornness of their evil hearts. When it comes to ignoring the Word of God, that is exactly what it is—STUBBORNNESS!

Today believers want to explain sin away with, “Oh they just need counseling.” Or, “Their parents were the same way; simply a family weakness.” On and on run the excuses of sinful, vile, and proud man.
God knows better and so do wise people who know their Bible, which teaches man is a sinner from birth.

Truth relays, all need to repent and be washed in Christ’s blood of righteousness. Christians adamantly must call sin … sin.

Personally, I know of no Christian counselors who call for humble repentance. Nor none who will take people through the Bible, and with it, explain how they must turn away from all that is contrary to it … including a stubborn heart that is bent to do whatever gets it high.

God will not let any “me” type person to get away with anything. He will always lay bear the fact they want to sin, they want the pleasure, they want to live out their vile dreams of performing every wicked thing, because “It is all about me.”

The “virgin of Israel” appears in verse 13. How startling that God will even use such a phrase at this point of Israeli backsliding. But this was what the potter designed Israel to be; to be set apart for God and Him alone. No distractions; no alluring idols of gold.

They were to be betrothed to God solely, to never wander to another.

True believers belong to Jesus Christ and Him alone. Divorcing Him or being unfaithful should never be planted in our minds; just as the word “divorce” should never enter the conservation of a married couple.

Our fellowship relationship is akin to marriage. When a couple vows faithfulness “till death do part,” and then one leaves to choose another or others, they are in sin.

This verse is a slap in the face to the pompous Jews, for they are told, even the heathen or godless peoples know what Israel is doing is wrong. Yes, the unsaved often know better, how believers should act than they know themselves. Many unsaved are turned off to God, because so-called Christians continually cast a bad light on themselves through godless actions.

So-called Christians with evil intentions will lie and say, conform to society so you can attract the unsaved. Act according to societal prerequisites. This is one of the biggest fibs of satan. God commands, do not touch what is unclean and do not love this world. Its ways are to be a despicable thing in our eyes.

We cannot go through the New Testament and that which applies to us from the Old, and respond with, I do not need to conform to this, it’s old fashioned. I will be made fun of if I obey, even in a church situation. If we think this, we must ask who then is our strength and power? Christians are not called to be cowards.

Poetic beauty is composed in verse 14, referring to Mount Lebanon in the North, a range bathed in God’s snow and once covered in cedars. Presently, Lebanon snow is used for skiing and snowboarding on its 42 slopes. Hiking is relished … climbers trudge through the snow and over rough terrain; whereby, they are rewarded with vistas, waterfalls, and the Mediterranean Sea.

God inquires, would one abandon this plush area of splendor; by which, spring, melted snow cascades down the plateaus to feed the valley fields? Well, leaving and abandoning God, who created the Lebanon Mountains, which harvests agricultural blessings, is foolish. He, the Creator of all that is good, is the same one who has bestowed countless blessings to the Jewish people. How blinded can one be?

Unveiling the pain God is experiencing is directed to us in verse 15, and expressed in these words, “For my people have forgotten me!” He has been cast aside like an old pair of sandals. We too hurt God’s heart through our selfish actions.

The following phrase reads, “They have stumbled from their ways, from the ancient paths, to walk in bypaths—NOT ON A STRAIGHT HIGHWAY.”

I don’t mind being thought of as an old-fashioned prude by fellow believers, because I want to stay on the ancient paths of an old-fashioned, prudish God. It is a path that actually is a highway, which never bends nor leads one to speak, “I’m confused.” No one who journeys on the old-fashioned paths of God can end up confused. It is the tried and true highway.

Now, it must be admitted, there are those who claim to travel the old fashioned road and look it; yet, they hide an inner, sinful life. This is because they have an outward form of godliness or appearance; and not a genuine heart containing holiness. (2 Timothy 3:5)

When a sinful lifestyle is exposed in those who appear externally righteous, it can turn people away from the true paths of Scripture, and a righteous, separated appearance. This eventuates to a path of liberalism, hating all that even resembles separation from this world. Yes, this is most sad. I have seen it, and no doubt you have too.

When David sinned, he caused people to mock God; and God condemned David’s lost witness, making him pay grievously; 2 Samuel 12:13-14.

Our eyes can only be on God who is all righteousness, and never men who have a fallen nature that deceives. If our eyes are placed on Christians, we will be disappointed. So-called famed Christians appear to be falling frequently into sin these days. One noticeable thing that often gives them away is a proud look; they noticeably glory in their notability.

I say it is better to be a nobody, where no limelight of fame bothers to glow. If you abide only in Scripture, you usually never have to worry about fighting the pride of the renowned. Paul the apostle wrote he was a nobody and he preferred it that way.

When we wonder from the King’s highway, we end up like the people referred to in Ephesians 4:14, who are tossed here and there by waves, carried by every wind of doctrine.

Back in Jeremiah, verse 16, we learn the nations that surround Israel are going to make fun of God’s people; they are going to hiss and shake their heads, because the Jews have abandoned their God. Their showy, outward, religious appearance will melt, displaying in full view, their hidden, ugly hearts.

“I will show them my back and not my face,” says God. What a sign of broken fellowship; verse 17. This is an easy mind picture—an indication of detachment, and moving away from a relationship.

Abraham Lincoln wisely explained, “I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right, stand with him while he is right, but part with him when he goes wrong.”

This represents the ways of God and the way we should live; not desiring to be corrupted by bad company, including those who don’t walk in the truth, nor do not promote chaste ways of living.

At times a believer will waver, resulting in us having to loosen our grip on their hand. Jesus had to let go of Judas’ hand when he raised his heel against Him—Psalm 41:9 and John 13:18. It is nice to know God holds the hands of true believers—Isaiah 41:13 and Psalm 73:23.

When people move from the truth, we know we cannot remain close to them. You no longer walk together as one in Christ. When Christians, even pastors, begin to state things contrary to the Word, it is a danger sign, and we must take note and say something. If they refuse to respond to truth, we must depart.

When you begin to hear things that are not in perfect synchronization with the Holy Scriptures, something must be done so you are protected. You do not want to become deceived as well. Lucifer would always like to take more than one.

Verse 18 makes it obvious that everyone hates Jeremiah for being such a wet blanket. He just won’t get into the swing of things. Fortunately, during these times, we have always witnessed Jeremiah run to the only One who holds the answers—this being the LORD God. Jeremiah uses God as his sounding board while in fear and trembling. God continually offered Himself to Jeremiah and He offers Himself to us. The LORD is always there for His children who are walking with Him and who require His assistance. He grants peace, hope and love in every troubling circumstance of life.

Through it all, Jeremiah is learning endurance—an invaluable attribute. He is acquiring it through the hostility poured upon him. Though, be warned, he hasn’t seen anything yet!

What more perfects us in endurance but our trials? (James chapter 1) Jeremiah is being raised to higher ground; the foundation of perfection in persecution!

Does Jeremiah see this? I do not believe so.

The Jews were verbally making fun of Jeremiah with insolent tongues of despisement; in essence asking, what difference does it make if we slash him with our tongues? We will still have our priests, sages, and prophets who are on our side.

They could not recognize they were directing their useless guns of ridicule toward a man who would not reroute to please his fellow Jews and family.

Christ too was stricken with tongues, recounted in Matthew 27:39-44, while He suffered and bled on the tree of crucifixion. Those who despised His righteous teachings held the same revengeful loathing; they even wagged their heads at Him. They insulted the innocent One fiercely with cutting bites of verbal abuse. And we know every hour of every day He is still being cursed by men.

Christ was left alone to suffer for all mankind. Even His heavenly Father had to turn away when all our sins fell upon His holy Son. Christ was forsaken of men and by His heavenly Father that we might be saved.

Jeremiah was abandoned and mistreated by men; yet, God never deserted him; verse 19. His sins too would be paid for him later at Calvary. No one, including Jeremiah, had to suffer as Christ suffered, being totally abandoned, beaten and scarred beyond comprehension.

Jeremiah knows of the dirty, little plot set against him. The ruthless Jewish community has dug a pit for his soul and it is awaiting his arrival. They have pre-laid the snares for his steps.

Jeremiah calls out for God to rescue him. He pleads for God’s protection by reminding God of his faithfulness in obedience.

As of yet, Jeremiah has not resisted to the place of shedding of blood; Hebrews 12:4. But he is still concerned about tomorrow, knowing religious authorities wait for him to claim his blood. Religious authorities also waited in conspiracy to claim Christ’s blood, eventually getting what they wanted, not knowing it was all part of God’s miraculous plan. But God never allowed murderous plans to completely pan out regarding Jeremiah. Of course, Jeremiah was not the Savior and God of the world!

Christ calls us to pick up our tree and follow Him, which literally means to walk a road that can lead to painful death. We are to be willing to do as He did for us. The stake of crucifixion meant demise, a death of torment. We should not be unwilling to die for our Lord and His truth.

In North Korea, in the 1950s, Pastor Kim and his 27 member congregation were asked to deny Christ or die. They refused. A commanding, communist officer ordered four children to be hung. When his subordinates put the nooses around their small necks, the believers were once again asked to deny Christ. They still would not! The believers told the children, “We will soon see you in heaven.” The children then departed to their heavenly home.

This officer, with no heart, furthered his murdering agenda, ordering a steamroller. He forced the Christians to lie on the ground in its path. As the engine revved, they were provided with one last chance to recant their faith in the Savior.

As the steamroller began to inch forward the Christians began to sing, “More love to Thee, Oh Christ … then shall my latest breath whisper Thy praise, This be my parting cry my heart shall raise; More love, O Christ, to Thee,” continuing until their bodies were crushed under the pressure of massive rollers.

Christ provides the strength and power for His solid children to stand for Him in the midst of persecution. God faithfully lifted Jeremiah from the jaws of fear to carry on the message of salvation. God promised to preserve Jeremiah from the beginning; however, the moment to moment hatred reality, caused Jeremiah to want this assurance reinforced as needed.

Jeremiah requests God’s vengeance to fall on the malice-filled Jews; verse 21. Jeremiah, personally, would never lift a hand against his enemies.

In verse 23, Jeremiah speaks of the omniscience (all-knowing ways) of God in an example prayer of faith, knowledge, and intimacy with God. When we know God, we can tell Him all that is in our hearts, including our fears. We can reverently beseech Him every moment in total honesty and reality. This includes with temptation, explaining to God plainly what it is, how it makes us weak, how it bothers our heart, and how we want it removed.

Jeremiah knows God sees all and knows all, including the heart and thoughts within evil plotting to snag the innocent. This revealing a glimmer of faith in Jeremiah, even as he speaks of the pit they dug and the snare they set. Without the LORD, he stood absolutely alone. There could not possibly be a police rescue on this day and in this age. And consider the fact, the corrupt religious government views him as a criminal worthy of pogrom. Here is a civilized land; yet, personal religious rights are void for Jeremiah.

In the next phrase, Jeremiah asks for God not to forgive these people. Jeremiah did not know his coming Messiah would ask forgiveness for those who orchestrated His execution. Jeremiah, as we know, is a type of Christ when it comes to a righteous man suffering for the holy ways of God.

There is coming a retribution cry, when believers in Christ will request justice regarding those who persecute them unto death. In Revelation 6:9-10, believers, who have given their lives for the Gospel, cry out for the blood of avenge in judgment for their lives being snuffed out by evil doers; those who hate the way of the Calvary. Much of Revelation deals with the fulfillment of their pleas.

And 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10 reassures persecuted, New Testament believers, that fiery, vengeance will arrive on the unrepentant, evil people who persecute them.

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PS Here is a clay pot creating video. (Please consider the fact, God works in far finer detail with each individual person.)

Jeremiah Chapter 19

The Blood of Baby Innocents

Chapter 19 points us again to a manufactured pot for more visual lessons from God. Though similar in illustration, this chapter holds its own flavor apart from the previous discourse meal of thought. It is a humiliating portrait for us who think we are something when we are nothing!

It is too easy of a task to imagine ourselves on an elevated plane. This uppity, inward fashion is a stolen identity. Our proper ID tagging categorizes us as simpletons or nobodies. If we walked the boardwalk of truth, our clay vessel beings would pour out our filthy arrogance and we would allow the LORD to pour in demure.

Paul wisely recognized himself as a nobody in 2 Corinthians 12:11: I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody.

1 Corinthians chapter 1 also expounds on the utter foolishness of self-elevation. Verses 26-29 reveal God has chosen the weak and despised, that no flesh should glory in God’s presence. No one can walk in elitism before Almighty God. Nor are men to worship and adore fellow little men. God looks at the heart, not appearance, talents, accomplishments, fame, etcetera.

Formed were we from raw clay! One day our bodies will return to dust, leaving us disabled to drag along anything we thought we accomplished in our flesh.

To place our hearts back in the remarkable disclosure of Jeremiah, we must be yielded like earthenware, formed by the design of its maker.

To enter the story in this chapter, we observe Jeremiah being instructed by his LORD, the Master of craftsmanship, to purchase a clay bottle; verse 1.

We read of Jeremiah witnessing the formation of clay in chapter 18, and in this 19th chapter, God instructs him to place money into the hand of the creator of clay vessels to buy a bottle … a purchase of illustration.

God further instructs Jeremiah to take witnesses—the elders of the people and senior priests and go to the valley of Ben-hinnom.

Why these people? They don’t love him nor like him. They view themselves as superior to this inferior, humble prophet.

Perhaps he is to take his enemies along in attempt to heal wounds and make friends so they all can experience a fun time together. We know this cannot be so. The fact is, this is going to be an education in truth and these rebellious, societal elites are not going to like it …They don’t like anything Jeremiah does or says.

This interesting assemblage of folk do follow Jeremiah to the valley of Ben-hinnon (meaning “son of one gracious”).

We note from verse 3, there were others who joined the elders and priests. Jeremiah is additionally addressing the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the king.

They are to traverse in array to the potsherd gate which opened to this valley. This was where worthless pottery pieces were discarded and forgotten. Many, no doubt, were once viewed as exquisite pieces with fired artwork.

(Here is a video showing a restoration of an Israeli clay pot from Iron Age:

At one time, Israel was viewed as a valued piece of pottery, now she is to be discarded and forgotten. Though a shard remnant will be preserved and will eventually repent.

The city walls of Jerusalem had many gates and some were known by more than one name; this gate was also known as the dung gate, owning this was a refuse dump as well.

No historian seems to know exactly where this gate was located, outside of it being by the southern wall of Solomon’s temple.

If you turn to the maps at the back of your Bible, you may find a layout of the city of Jerusalem, if so, you can locate the various gateways to the various parts of the city. (An Internet image search of ancient Jerusalem can turn up, somewhat accurate illustrations too.)

These gates were supposedly double, metal passageways. If you view a New Testament illustration of Herod’s temple, these gates will be different from the ancient city of Jerusalem, at the time of Solomon’s temple. However, you can still see the Hinnon or Ben-hinnon area referred to, in the southern portion of your map.

Hinnom was also the Potter’s Field, referred to in the New Testament, which was bought with Judas’ 30 pieces of silver for his cemetery plot; Matthew 27:3-7. This was where Judas hung himself, and later, it was referred to as the “Field of Blood” or Hakeldama or Aceldama—Acts 1:19.

It was in this valley where Jeremiah was to preach to these religious ones. Here, everyone hears the words of the LORD of hosts; there is no escape from the truth of terror. They came and now they have to listen to the announced calamity of deadly horror.

When all the bloody judgement comes to pass and someone hears of it, their ears “shall tingle.” The Hebrew meaning is clear, if you research this verse and word in Strong’s Concordance:

Catastrophes are always shocking but notably so when they are instigated by God Almighty through prophetic proclamation.

God, who implements His powerful angels (hosts) for judgement, will provide no downy pillows to catch the falling Jews. He will bring “evil” to this place and the Jewry has been stiffly warned.

The following verses deal with the pagan religious acceptance in the land that once was in submission to the LORD.

Our nation once was famed for being in submission to Christian morality to a large extent. She was also branded as a mission-minded country. She sent forth missionaries to reach those in nations who practiced pagan beliefs with the support of many Americans. Many citizens cared about their eternal destiny and present satanic bondage. American born again missionaries held all the answers for deliverance, hope and eternal life, resulting in many pagans turning to Jesus Christ of the Bible.

In verse 4, we view Jeremiah preaching the “forefathers” of the land did not condone paganism nor knew of these false gods and ways. We know America’s forefathers never allowed native heathenism in civilized society nor recognized such practices. Native Indian traditions were considered abhorrent to civilization, resulting in many missions being established to reach the indigenous.

New Age has been prominent in Idaho for over two decades, but it seems more visible with various stores encouraging the buying of charms, mystical attire, pagan home furnishings, etc.

This Jeremiah verse also refers to the land of Israel appearing alien. Our land appears more and more alien as strange religions and their customs become more observable.

Jeremiah has to address Judah’s open-border sins continually, this being due to her downfall which originated by bringing in false teachings from other nations. We observe the confused state they fell into with the immoral leniency brought to accommodate lifestyles of beliefs that were contrary to civilized, Scriptural codes.

We witness how America has plummeted and continues to fall as she engulfs herself with more and more immoral religious philosophies. History is repetitive! And America too will not escape her just comeuppance.

People desiring sexual play with a religious twist has been the motive behind many religious formations, including those religions which allow many wives and lovers.

Sexual play was behind the religion of Aaron, Moses’ brother, when he constructed the golden calf; whereby, the people arose and played.

A friend and I were speaking of the religions which have arrived from foreign lands. The Hare Krishna or Hindu religion has been present in America for decades and made its visible appearance in Idaho several years ago. How sad to hear people say “good Karma” instead of “God bless you.”

Hinduism and Hare Krishna are segments of Buddhism. Krishna and Buddhism “identifies … with Hindu Vedic philosophy.” All three originating in India. Of course, Yoga, of Hinduism with its 33 million gods, is offered in most workout studios.

Hare Krishna’s child molestation reputation has made this cult a concerning element in society.

“In 2000, a Texas lawyer filed a $400 million lawsuit alleging widespread sexual, emotional and physical abuse of more than 40 Krishna kids at the Dallas ashram, at the Krishna temple in West Virginia, and at other schools, called gurukulas, around the country.”

Muslims have also become visible in Idaho, our local, within the last decade, and their child molestation practices are not a secret.

The wicked, vile way of abusing children, seems to engulf many demonic religious sects, including Mormonism, which has also been an ongoing news item.

None of these religions promote Christian morality in any serious way, just the opposite—most everything goes; yet, they are sanctioned in the US in the name of ecumenicalism (the acceptance of all religions).

False sects are filled with confused people who need to be presented with the truths of Jesus Christ. God consistently saves people from all false beliefs. America has become a mission field in itself with all the paganism afoot.

Returning to the Jeremiah text, we see the most horrific item addressed in this chapter, that of baby burning, verses 4-5.

This was an intricate part to their sensual worship and lifestyle. We can rightly inquire, why is it babies are the ones sacrificed for sexual pleasure, then and now?

When promiscuous sex comes to have predominance in peoples’ lives, babies and children become pons of disposal and abuse. They are also neglected for lovers, and thus exposed to every indecency. It is totally grievous to see the youngest of children dancing in a sexy manner.

Verse 5 states these infants were being burnt to Baal. Molech was another god babies were offered to through live cremation. We know in America, unborn children are burned to death—one of the barbaric methods of abortion.

Christians cannot help but reveal righteous anger knowing the Democratic Party’s top two agendas are the promotion of infanticide and sexual deviancy of every kind.

On November 19, 2014, Terry Bean, age 66, a famed homosexual, homosexual activist, and a good friend of former President Obama was arrested. There are a bundle of photos of our president and Bean together, including one with Obama, Michelle and Bean’s 25 year old male lover.

Bean is the founder of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), which is one of the world’s largest, wealthiest and most powerful anti-Christian, pro-homosexual organizations. Bean has been massive contributor to the gay-promoting Democratic Party, contributing significant amounts to Obama’s campaigns. He resides in Oregon.

Bean and his young, male lover were arrested and charged with felonies involving the sodomizing of a 15-year-old boy. Police report they have evidence of other possible victims, aware Bean had been filming his sex acts with his young victims.

In the past, Bean defended Portland’s male mayor who had an underage male lover.

The democrats and liberal media do not care about this youth. This boy is their object of hate for exposing the fact their homosexual, activist hero, sodomized him. Liberals are on the prowl to prevent all the facts from being reported regarding this vile crime, deserving of legal execution.

This Wikipedia article sings the gay praises of Bean throughout and does not mention the fact he is accused of molesting a boy till the end of the article:

Also a video of rapturous praise by a human rights group was posted on YouTube, regarding Terry Bean following his arrest.

It appears obvious, democrats believe gays have the right to rape whomever they desire, deserving to have all evidence suppressed or overlooked.

In addition, it needs to be noted, our president has expressed no desire to address, discipline and prosecute Pentagon employees, 17,000, for downloading child porn on their computers.

We know lawlessness will increase in the last days … all to our heartbreak.

Everyone needs the LORD and Christ died for all men.

🔷 🔷 🔷 🔷 🔷 🔷

Returning to Jeremiah, God’s righteousness is declared at the end of verse 5; He never would have thought of such a wicked thing. It never would have entered His mind to burn innocent babies. God declared “this place” was filled with the “blood of innocents; verse 4.”

How God’s heart wept and Jeremiah’s and so should ours over sins that never would have entered the mind of a holy, innocent, pure and undefiled God.

How many perverse things do men perform in the name of freedom and choice; actions which never would have entered our LORD’s mind? Probably most!

As we move to verse 6, we read of Topheth, which is another designation for the area of Ben-hinnom. Topheth means “place of fire,” and here the cries of babies rang out, as they were burned in idol sacrifice in this valley. Ben means “tall mountain” or hill, and of course, idols were worshipped on the tall hills to lift them high in demonic worship. “Hinnom” means lamentation. God and His godly ones bore much sorrow knowing these little babies and young children were being burned to death to satan.

God declares, this valley will become known as the “Valley of Slaughter;” this will be the place where many Jews will be massacred for their mutinous ways when Babylon invades.

Scrolling down to verse 9, we enter another grotesque reality. They, these Hebrews, are going to eat the flesh of their sons and daughters. Hunger will be the controlling factor when famine invades the land. We covered this in a previous lesson … certainly not something to dwell on for a length of time.

In verse 10, Jeremiah is told by God that he is to break the potter’s vessel.

It is explained, the potsherds cannot be put together again; therefore, these remains must be buried in Topheth or Ben-hinnom. These people are beyond repair like the fragmented bottle; consequently, they too will be broken in this valley and entombed.

It will come about, this will be the only place available for burial. It is only just that this became the place of entombment for Judas too, who betrayed God the Son.

We should not forget, Jeremiah is one who spoke of Judas in prophecy concerning the potter’s field and is recorded in Matthew 27:6-9. Possibly, at some point in these two chapters, though, not scribed.

Matthew passage: Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: The chief priests took the thirty pieces of silver and would not put the money in the treasury because it was unlawful, because it was the price of blood.They took counsel and bought the potter’s field to bury strangers in. Therefore the field is called the “field of blood” to this day.

This certainly was a true statement; twice did this plot of land bear the name “field of blood.”

As we enter a new section, we note Jeremiah is preaching again; moving from Hinnom to the court of the temple or “LORD’s house;” verse 14.

Several court areas were within the Temple of Solomon. If you turn to the Jerusalem city map in the back of your Bible again, you will note the various courts that were part of the temple, including the court for women, another for men and a court for gentiles.

Jeremiah was possibly in the inner court area by the altar of sacrifice or somewhere in the great court area, which wound around the entire temple; also known as the Royal Porch or Solomon’s Porch.

It is the never-ending story or so it seems, observing Jeremiah preaching; continually covering Judah’s sinful acts.

Verse 15 establishes the root of their abominable deeds in this message … their “stiffened necks” won’t relax and submit to God’s Words. This message cannot save them because they won’t respond.

Their hearts were hard as rock. They were ecumenical to the core, possessing no desire to come out from the world’s religions and be separate.

Jerusalem’s citizens were forever willing to support their liberal government, composed of religious leaders who would justify any religious movement and take part. Of course, we are to respect our government leaders; yet, we must never approve of any of their anti-biblical agendas. Christ never approved of the religious leaders deadly, whitewashed agendas of His day.

Sometimes pastors or evangelists will preach in an area to unsaved people and no one steps forward in repentance, all because the people have stiffened their necks to the presented truths. They are blinded to hell’s fire consequences of saying “No.”

When we take hard or stiff stances contrary to God’s Word, we shut our ears to the Holy Spirit; making ourselves to be little gods. We are gods unto ourselves … according to what we believe or think, or by what other men believe or think. You know— whatever gives us pleasant dreams on a memory foam bed of denial.

In closing, I pray for you and me to learn to possess moldable hearts of wet, formable clay.

Postscripts:

Interesting article showing a clay pot artifact, holding the name of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, father of the prophet Jahaziel, who prophesied to King Jehoshaphat before he departed for war. (2 Chronicles 20:14)

Jeremiah Chapter 20

Jeremiah Assaulted

Yes, we have now reached chapter 20 of this expedient book. Every verse in every chapter of Jeremiah, God wrote to grant us discernment in every age and to protect us from the evil reintroduced in every age. God wrote everything in the Bible because He cherishes us. Yes, He loves us. May we cherish and love Him with all our hearts, minds and strength through godly obedience.

The public responding to the chapter 19 annihilation prediction is what we witness entering chapter 20. The people were not happy with the message of doom and gloom proclaimed by Jeremiah. They certainly did not like him naming their sins one by one. How dare he do such a thing! They were the world’s religious ones; faithful to the temple and the law. A few sins on the side certainly shouldn’t bother God that much, including pride of position.

Pashhur, the priest, is ready to do Jeremiah in. Pashhur (name means “freedom”) has had it to the top of his head with all the convicting rhetoric of Jeremiah; especially heard in Jeremiah’s last preaching session. He most likely was one of the senior priests asked to accompany Jeremiah in 19:1, when Jeremiah broke the vessel of clay—a visual lesson of what will occur with the land of Judah for all its sins, including infanticide.

Pashhur, the clever one, or so he thought, maintained authority as the chief officer or governor over the house of God or Jerusalem temple. He was also a son of Immer, an exceedingly prominent priest, as Ezra later recorded in his book, in chapter 2. He fathered 1,052 priestly descendants.

Pashhur handled his anger with Jeremiah with brutal force in legal authority. He had Jeremiah beaten. Jeremiah had suffered for his faith before but never assaulted. He most likely did not know his future Savior would be beaten too by religious leaders for convicting preaching.

In America, we are witnessing a desire to legislate laws so hateful restraints can be placed upon Christians for holding to the Bible in moral ethics. Even threatening with imprisonment.

Following this humiliating beating, Jeremiah was placed incriminating wooden stocks or restraints; probably differing little from colonial days of public punishment. He was treated like a common criminal when he was a chosen prophet of God. This man endured much agony and disgrace for his LORD.

Jeremiah was placed in these stocks where there was much activity and traffic, being confined near the Benjamin Gate, leading to the temple. This passage sat on the north side of the temple entrance; thus, so named, being a road going and coming from the main territory of Benjamin. (If you own a study Bible, you can turn to your Bible maps, usually in the back of Bibles, to the one showing the divided territory of the land of Israel according to tribes, or you can search on the internet for this map. There are maps revealing the ancient areas in detail, accessible for every study of Scripture if you search the web. Here is one site with divided land:

You will notice Jerusalem lay in the southern border of this tribal area.

Bethlehem, where Christ was born, was just south of Jerusalem in the Judah tribal land area. Remember, the land of Israel was divided 12 ways for the 12 tribes after they entered the territory under Joshua.)

Returning to our passage, we are made elated by the fact, Jeremiah was released the following day from this humiliation of stocks; verse 3. God had promised, back in chapter 1, He would deliver Jeremiah, and thus He did. The LORD also explained, the Jews would fight against Jeremiah, but they would not prevail; 1:19. God, who freed Jeremiah, bequeathed him with a message for wicked Pashhur, informing him, Pashhur’s name would be changed to “Magor-missabib” meaning “terror on every side.” Jeremiah told Pashhur, terror will fill him when he sees his friends killed by the sword and others transported to Babylon, which was Pashhur’s destiny as well. He would also die there. He was a false prophet and God designated him as such. He did not solely hold to the Word of God. A true prophet would never allow any worldly and empty philosophy to enter his thought life to govern his actions; he would only rest on the Bible’s content.

God continued to speak through Jeremiah in a powerful way to Pashhur, the man with the French sounding name, in verses 4-6. We easily wonder why Jeremiah ended up in the depths of depression, verse 7, after being significantly used of God Almighty in bold preaching. I can assume Jeremiah was hurting and in pain from the beating. He is left to wonder why God allowed such persecution to come his way.

When I was injured in a car accident, I questioned why God allowed it, seeing I always expected Him to protect me from that kind of harm. Christ simply reassured me through His peace and comfort, it was for a reason. I definitely became more sensitive to those who were hurting. Today, I can offer thanks through understanding His sovereignty and the fact we live in a fallen world where we naturally feel the effects of circumstances of living on the earth filled with countless harmful obstacles. We can be grateful every day we are not injured in some way. Though, we also present thanks in all things, all situations negative or positive which meet us and sometimes head-on.

Also in verse 7, Jeremiah speaks of being “a laughingstock all day long.” I am sure being in stocks made him a laughingstock. Yes, a bit of a pun. Seriously, Jeremiah being sat before the multitudes of people who passed through the Benjamin Gate was no fun. Pun and fun … perhaps I’m not being serious enough. I must get moving, remaining on task …They, no doubt, sadly hurled every verbal abuse possible. It was a relief to them to view this one in such a state who consistently convicted them of their disobedience to God’s Word.

John 15:18-19 tells New Testament believers, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of this world, the world would love its own, but because you are not of this world, but I chose you out of this world, because of this the world hates you.” Jeremiah was not of this world in any way shape or form nor did he like it. He was hated by the world because he spoke the words of Christ.

Christ composed the Old Testament, being verified in John 1:1. Jesus Christ came to earth to make God and His truths come to life before men, and to present new righteous challenges. Christ being of the Godhead spoke through Jeremiah which caused these religious people to hate him. The descendants of these religious Jews possessed the same mindset of hate as Christ declared. They abhorred Christ’s earthly walk and spoke in the same manner of the Savior as their ancestors did of Jeremiah. Sinful attitudes don’t change from generation to generation, knowing all are born with a flesh that does not desire the course of God.

Jeremiah speaks his heart when he asserts, everyone mocks him. They possibly satirically imitated him, poking fun of his preaching. We all know how people mimic others to make them appear dumb and stupid.

They certainly would have criticized him if he was unattractive in some way. They wanted him not to appear socially acceptable so no one would heed his words. They wanted people to perceive, he did not blend into cultural normalcy. His preaching in public against sin made him different from everyone else and this was to be viewed as strange.

This is mainly done from a sinful, arrogant attitude. People love, making themselves out to be above others.

These transgressors wanted to prove Jeremiah didn’t implement common sense and wise actions. These Jews, no doubt, stressed, men should not preach against sin. This was not proper in socially acceptable religious arenas. The people of God were not to be reprimanded.

Mankind, in general, enjoys putting down all who appear to be different from the crowd. Many believers don’t desire to evangelize, because in so doing, they will look different from general society … odd balls. They don’t want people pointing fingers at them and laughing. Most so-called Christians desire not to pay the price of being viewed as fanatics for Jesus Christ. They want to be proper in all cultural ways. They don’t want to be Jeremiahs.

May we all be socially unacceptable fanatics for our LORD as Jeremiah was!

On June 18th, 2004, Jiang Zongxiu of China was beaten to death and much of her hair torn out by those of the Public Security Bureau. She decided to be socially unacceptable in the marketplace and distribute Bibles and Gospel literature. She wasn’t afraid of being odd or different for her Almighty LORD! Unfortunately, others felt her efforts must permanently cease. Satan desires Christians not pass out Biblical truths of salvation’s plan. He wants them all arrested and murdered like Jiang!

Satan desires to place evangelistic negativism in the hearts of born again believers. He manipulates, implementing differing disguises to discourage the putting forth of God’s Word. He wants men and women cast into the lake of fire, never hearing of the hope found in Christ Jesus.

Such believers as Jiang were blasted in the November 2004 Christianity Today magazine, this liberal, so-called Christian publication, made it clear, it stands with the apostate Three-Self Patriotic Movement or government churches in China. The magazine printed a favorable article on the government church, stating home churches break the law and if people are arrested, imprisoned and tortured, it is because they deserve it.

Franklin Graham who is an ecumenical liberal, has made this same stand regarding Christianity in China. He stands with the atheist, Christian-hating, Three-Self Movement church—self-governance, self-support and self-propagation. He does not believe in evangelism outside of communist controls. He views this as unbiblical. He certainly ignores the New Testament heroes and martyrs, including the apostles, who evangelized illegally and many sacrificed their lives for being criminals without a crime. Jeremiah also evangelized illegally.

The government churches view public evangelism as irresponsible and harmful. Preaching about the resurrection and the second coming of Jesus is forbidden. Stating atheist, communist heroes went to hell is disallowed. Christian teaching in opposition to abortion (baby murder) is illegal.

It is also important to know, no Bibles can be circulated in public. Government officials, military personnel, teachers and students cannot be Christians. They have to be atheists of the People’s Republic of China.

The Christianity Today article additionally put down those who say the “world is evil, full of sin and unrighteousness.”

Another article in this magazine was written on the Mystique Church that “rediscovers Christianity from an Eastern religion.” The heretics behind the article view the “Bible as a human product.” Such teachings are closely aligned with New Perspective, which this magazine has endorsed in the past. If Jeremiah was alive today, he would preach with all his might against such false teachings. The Mystique teachings were presented in an affirmative manner in the magazine.

This publication included a positive article on Planned Parenthood even though their agendas are divergent to Holy Scriptures. PP is all about murdering innocent children and bringing children into sexual bondage for filthy lucre sake.

Jeremiah would never fit with Christianity Today. Thank goodness! He didn’t fit into modern Judaism and he wouldn’t fit into contemporary Christianity.

Jeremiah, even though he does not enjoy the persecution which arises with standing alone in public places proclaiming truth, he cannot stop. He admits in verse 9, if he says he will no longer speak in God’s name, then his heart “becomes like a burning fire,” shut up in his bones and he becomes weary of holding it in and he cannot endure it.

Yes, this man was fully filled with the power of the Holy Spirit to preach truth where no other man dared to follow in his steps.

Jeremiah speaks of his pain in verse 10, further explaining the adversity of persecution, knowing fellow Jews whisper about his strange behavior.

Terror lies on every side; the apostate population wants to snuff out the messenger. All want his downfall.

What makes this verse ring in our ears is the sadness in Jeremiah. He exposes, his trusted friends are watching for his downfall. How it must have pained him to acknowledge, none of this friends truly loved the LORD.

William Tyndale, who translated the first English Bible, previous to the KJV, was turned over to England’s authorities by his close friend. This resulted in him being strangled and then burned.

It is grievous and dispiriting to contemplate the amount of lukewarm believers desiring to see strong, on-fire Christians come to their downfall or desire to see them compromise, to see them become as them—retched. The undedicated scoff at on-fire believers, because they won’t waver from righteousness to delight in the world’s fun. The lukewarm are so lost in compromise, it afflicts them to know these dedicated ones actually exist.

Praise God, Jeremiah renews his faith in verse 11, now referring to God as his “dread champion.” One might picture the heavy-weight champion of the world standing next to Jeremiah acting as his bodyguard. Of course, no one or nothing can compare to the universal omnipotence of God who could destroy the world in less than a second and recreate it in an instant.

Jeremiah knew the LORD Almighty ruled by his side even while he was walking in dissipating faith.

Jeremiah records, his persecutors will stumble and not prevail. We observe more faith displayed in this man, even following his body being dreadfully beaten by sinful, merciless men. No doubt, he is worn and tired from this spiritual battle; fortunately, his strength comes from God Almighty—the omnipotent One. The LORD is our strength, shield and help.

It is always inspiring to read of Christian prisoners in foreign lands and how the LORD comes to them in their depressed and beaten state and lifts them heavenward.

I recently read the Gospel in Bonds. The true story of Georgi Vins, published by Lighthouse Trails. Georgi suffered in many Russian prisons for refusing to deny Christ and declining to be silent when pastoring. His father, a Russian missionary pastor, was murdered in prison by the Soviets.

Miraculous is the appropriate word to describe the ways God preserved Georgi from various plots to snuff out his life. At one point in prison life, Georgi was deliberately placed in a cell holding only murderers. The Soviet officials were sure he had now met his demise. They did not know God could maneuver beyond the plotted circumstances for His glory and He did.

The convicted murderers were quite intimidating and cruel at first, until they gained the insight to discern, this cell assignment was wholly plotted for the killing of an innocent man.

The deadly murderers had never heard the Gospel before and were hungry for forgiveness and hope; this Georgi brought to them in the form of Jesus Christ.

The interested inmates insisted Georgi show them his all-so-tiny hidden Gospel of Mark, he had mentioned … to take it out of hiding from his bag. Georgi had been able, by God’s grace, to keep it concealed from the guards during his incarceration.

After presenting the Word to the worst of the worst, Georgi knelt down and prayed in thanksgiving for sparing his life in this cell; then went fast to sleep in encompassing weariness and fatigue. He awoke to The Gospel of Mark being read by one of the prisoners the next day. The murderers had many questions awaiting him. They demanded to know if they could be forgiven by Jesus Christ for all their deadly sins. Some of the prisoners stopped smoking and cursing and started praying. The Soviet guards were amazed at the respect these prisoners held for Georgi and how he left this cell without a mark on him. He shared the cell with these inmates for about a week. When it was time for him to leave, the murderers insisted he leave the Gospel with them—they in desperate need of it. They also requested his continual prayers for them. Georgi held no doubts that some of them were saved during this tenure.

Turning our eyes back on Jeremiah, we know he believes in justice, observing this previously and again displayed in these verses 11-13. He had also referred to God’s vengeance, not his, in chapter 11, verse 20.

We come in contact with worship and praise in song in verse 13. Jeremiah praises the LORD God in melody, declaring He has delivered the soul of this needy or poor one, from the “hand of evildoers.” He rejoices in his faith in God who hates all sinfulness and injustice.

What transformation emerges in verse 14. Obviously, a few days or maybe weeks or months reside between verses 13 and 14. We read Jeremiah is downcast once again, desiring he had never been born!

He speaks of his father who was a priest, Hilkiah. Remember, we looked at Hilkiah and his assisting with revival during the time of Josiah—2 Kings chapter 22. We now read, here in Jeremiah 20:15, of a servant who brought news to Hilkiah, Jeremiah’s father, of Jeremiah’s birth, causing him to rejoice. Reliving this by going back in time, we can visualize how excited this godly father was to learn he had produced an up and coming priest to assume his place someday. Of course, God had a different calling, that of prophet. No doubt, either way, Hilkiah would have rejoiced. He was made “very happy!” Obviously, the family relived this felicitous scene before Jeremiah in later years.

In verses 15-17, Jeremiah reveals a messenger brought the news to his father of his birth and wishes this servant evil for not murdering him while still in the womb. Jeremiah is obviously in the extremes of depression. Does God care? Undoubtedly! He deems the downcast in gracious concern, so disclosed in 2 Corinthians 7:6—God comforts the depressed. I can’t even begin to count how many times the LORD has lifted me off the sticky web of despair.

Jeremiah, in verse 18, wants to know why he came forth from the womb to look at trouble and sorrow. These verses remind me of Ecclesiastes 4:1-4. If you study these verses, you find King Solomon congratulates the dead more than the living, uttering it is better if one never existed at all. He also makes his most famous of statements in verse 4—“all is vanity and striving after the wind.”

We now must leave Jeremiah down in the dumps, but things will pick up again as he returns in his Savior’s strength in chapter 21.

Jeremiah Chapter 21

Christ’s Love Overcomes

This chapter is not placed in sequential order. Why this occurred, I do not know but this is where God has allowed it to be placed. We have jumped way ahead of what has been so far recorded in history.

In verse 1, we are dealing with King Zedekiah, the youngest son of righteous King Josiah. Josiah was totally dedicated to his LORD God, which incited Jeremiah to chant a lament for him in 2 Chronicles 35:25. Unfortunately, none of Josiah’s sons followed in his footsteps. Why? We do not know—Scripture leaves us clueless. Three of Josiah’s sons reigned over Judah. 1 Chronicles 3:15 lists Josiah’s sons though not in order. His oldest son, Johanan, may or may not have been godly, but he probably died, knowing the crown was never placed upon his head.

In most cases, not all, the diadem adorned the eldest heir. The firstborn who opened the womb was considered property of the LORD. Numbers 3:13, Exodus 13:2, and Leviticus 27:26 refer to this, which also included animals for sacrifice. God also required the first of all the produce in offering of thanksgiving. The first fruits are the most delectable of the season. Every bite of food is a gift from our God who provides for us abundantly. He deserves our all.

(Christ was the first child of Mary. He was born of God, was God and was our firstborn sacrifice. He was the firstborn of all creation— Colossians 1:15. He was heir to the Davidic throne through Joseph’s lineage as the firstborn.)

The firstborn child was the one who received the main family inheritance. If for some reason, the firstborn son was irresponsible or ungodly, another was chosen such as with Esau and Jacob.

Observing the firstborn in relationship to the nation of Israel, God did not always allow the oldest to rule. In the case of youthful David, the LORD verbally made His choice known, choosing the youngest to replace evil King Saul. Samuel expected Eliab, the eldest, to be anointed as king; however, God spoke wise words to Samuel, informing him that man looks at the outward appearance, but God observes the heart. Eliab and his brothers, excepting little David, had no heart for the LORD God.

Zedekiah was the last of Josiah’s sons to rule on the throne. We recognize he was the youngest by viewing the ages of Josiah’s sons who ruled as monarchs in 2 Kings, chapters 23 and 24. Jehoahaz was the son who reigned, following his father, Josiah. We will study him in Jeremiah chapter 22. The next son to reign was Jehoiakim who was the oldest of the three, and then Jehoiakim’s elder son, Jehoiachin. Both Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin are in the line of Christ.

Zedekiah was then appointed ruler by King Nebuchadnezzar, created as a puppet king, following the removal of Jehoiachin and the largest number of Jews from Judah. This the main captivity of three regarding Judah, the southern kingdom. Zedekiah was left to rule the remnant of Judah. Despite it all, he did not learn to fear King Nebuchadnezzar and later rebelled, resulting in Nebuchadnezzar ceasing his reign by force and removing him into captivity as well.

Yes, I acknowledge this is very confusing. And to add to your perplexity, I must remind you, only the kings of Judah were of David’s lineage leading to Christ. The Northern Kingdom, Israel, had many kings and all but one evil, but they were not of the Davidic line. Remember, the Northern Kingdom was removed by captivity to the kingdom of Assyria, 136 years before Judah was extracted into captivity under King Jehoiachin. Some people were left in the land, including Jeremiah and the new king—Zedekiah; but subsequently this remnant was removed too. Only a portion of impoverished Jews remained with Jeremiah. These poor Jews disobeyed God, not remaining in the land, and moved to Egypt, making Jeremiah accompany them.

Reading the first verse, we are viewing the distant future of Judah when King Zedekiah was reigning over a remnant of Jews. Remember I wrote, this chapter was placed way ahead of itself, out of chronological order. This is why you are probably terribly confused at this point or I’m just not being too clear. This chapter transpires when King Zedekiah is in rebellion and warring against King Nebuchadnezzar who placed him on the throne to impose all his orders and desires.

We observe King Zedekiah sending priests to Jeremiah, Pashhur and Zephaniah, in the first verse. Theologians do not believe this is the same Pashhur that we read of in chapter 20. Chapter 20 refers to a Pashhur who was of the son of Immer; however, if you turn to Ezra 2:37, you will see Immer had 1,052 sons. No, not all from the same wife! 😀

Obviously, Immer was the main patriarch of a large priestly clan. The previous chapter may have just stated Pashhur’s famous ancestor, observing many places in the Bible allude to a person’s legendary ancestor as father, and yet, not the direct papa. The Jews are often referred to being the sons of Abraham, Jacob, etc. This chapter may state his direct predecessor and the previous chapter his renowned ancestor. With all that said, he may or may not be the same person.

If he is the same person, he has much nerve to approach Jeremiah after beating him and putting him in stocks in the past. Here he approaches Jeremiah in a humble manner for guidance.

It is interesting how those who are not right with God can approach the ones they know are walking hand in hand with God, and request their intercedence for prayer requests. They also seek their wise direction when in dire straits. They will normally make fun of these godly people for being too heavenly minded for any earthly good until they are caught between a rock and a hard place. Then these people are the ones they approach, knowing their prayers are answered in powerful ways. Jeremiah’s prayers were exceptionally powerful. The prayers of a righteous man availeth much! No wonder they made a beeline to Jeremiah in their desperate state of pending doom.

These two men, Pashhur and Zephaniah, are the religious representatives for King Zedekiah who wants Jeremiah to inquire of the LORD on his behalf. The words of these men represent a humble appearance of worship directed to God Almighty. Unfortunately, the facts reveal, the king, along with these men, certainly do not live in a true state of worship. All these men are extremely wicked. They are religious but not righteous; they are not near to the heart of God.

This is true of the apostate church today, which only displays a form of godliness. (2 Timothy 3:4-5) Sometimes godless church attendees can fool the saints with prayers and Scripture knowledge to their beguiling benefit and desire. These types of men did not fool Jeremiah or the LORD God, who knows all men’s hearts and minds.

God lets these men know this is His war!! Though it certainly appears they are warring with the Chaldeans or Babylonians. God is the one who is battling against this evil nation with His “outstretched hand and a mighty arm, in anger, wrath and great indignation.” The Lord continues on with His strong words of total destruction of Jerusalem and of His chosen race. This prophesy proclaims the King Zedekiah’s looming doom as well; he will be led captive by King Nebuchadnezzar.

God does provide a way out in verses 8-9, declaring, if the people will flee from Jerusalem and give themselves over to the Babylonians, then they will live.

They never did take seriously these Words of God and surrender. Many people suffer because they never seek God’s way out—surrendering to His will and Word. Through self-deduction, they perceive it cannot be the best path or the most productive in the scheme of fleshly rewards. And they are right! God will not fulfill their flesh to their ultimate fulfillment for now and all eternity. The mind-set on the flesh is death—Romans 8:6.

These senseless ones would rather do things according to what is right in their own eyes and pay the consequences. So many people, including believers, do not desire to admit or accept the fact that God’s Word is for their lifestyle and circumstances. I know of a very sad situation with a group of pastors from a Bible church who are lying and deceiving, going against God’s Word, yet are refusing to admit their sin and repent. They are leading the congregation down the twisting trail of false doctrine so they can be open to new revelation and new interpretations from contemporary ecumenical theologians.

Blessings always arise from obedience; disobedience leads to tragedy. We are viewing the chapters of a sad saga in Jeremiah. The stage curtain is collapsing on these wayward Jews slowly but surely. It collapses on all who forsake the true path.

Verse 11 explains, God has set His face against Jerusalem for harm and not good. In Deuteronomy 10:12-13, the Jews were informed by God that they were to love Him and serve Him with all their heart and with all their soul. And keep His commandments and statutes, which results in their good. God makes everything simple, man makes things hard and complicated by choosing to follow two masters—the world’s mandates and a holy God. Men and women attempt to fit God into their mess of scattered puzzle pieces and for some reason they just never piece together.

Of course, we do know the Jews could not keep the whole law as they possessed a sinful nature, but they could have chosen to live righteously as Jeremiah did. They could have elected to follow his godly example and leadership.

Verses 11 and 12 speak God’s gracious words. He is a God of compassion, owning he offered these rebellious ones chance after chance to repent! He provides them simple instructions to follow. They are to administer justice every morning by delivering the person who has been robbed by their oppressor. It is simple; God is not burdening them with a command too hard. Did they ever desire justice? No, of course not! Most likely, too many dishonest people who loved to use others for their mendacious gain, lorded the high places of government.

It is interesting, these Hebrews know what Jeremiah states is true, knowing Babylon had already invaded Jerusalem with destructive force and took the people captive in exactness to Jeremiah’s predictions. But these leftovers still want to do their own thing; refusing to admit Jeremiah is a true prophet of God. They will not submit to his words, which pour from the mouth of God. Of course, we know today, people all about us pay the consequences for their actions in numerous ways; but refuse to turn from those ways and bow before God who inflicts penalties upon them.

Verses 13-14 deal with people living outside the city of Jerusalem and feel protected from the enemy. They believe the enemy is just interested in the destruction of the city and its dwellers. God makes it clear … those who live in the suburbs are going to be destroyed too—their sin is also great. He will punish them according to the results of their deeds.

I find this statement worthy of note, “according to the result of their deeds.” When we choose sin there are always results and they are always negative and far-reaching. A neighbor was taken away in handcuffs and I think about how this must be affecting his family and friends. I have witnessed to the children who live in this home and two have prayed to receive Christ. I hope their decisions were genuine. One child is a girl and she has admitted to having a problem with thievery, and though she is very young, she has harmful ideas about other things as well. Other children in our neighborhood cannot play with her because of her negative influence. I have to keep interceding for this deceived family.

Jeremiah Chapter 22

The Dynasties

The unfolding of this chapter occurs approximately 11 years previous to King Zedekiah, whom we studied in the last chapter and who ruled last on David’s throne.

In verse 1, we begin the framing of this chapter with King Jehoahaz, righteous King Josiah’s second son. Jehoahaz was Josiah’s son who ruled first though he was the middle son. I do not know why the eldest was not set on the throne first. I have researched, but to no avail. Jehoahaz was simply chosen … possibly, he was viewed as the most capable or he harped the essential political strings.

Later, when we arrive at verse 18 in this study, you will notice a shift, owning Jehoiakim will be set forth as the subject, Josiah’s eldest son, who ruled after Jehoahaz—Josiah’s second son, who was deposed to Egypt by Pharaoh Neco II or Necho or Nekau. As far as we know, Josiah fathered no righteous heir. Sad for a father who loved the LORD with all his heart.

Many imperial years are expounded upon in this chapter, addressing the last of the kings to rule in the land. No king followed Zedekiah. Christ will be the next and perfect king in David’s lineage.

Remember from our last lesson, Jehoiakim was the eldest, yet ruled second. He, like his brother—King Jehoahaz, was captured and forced to trek to Egypt when Pharaoh Neco decided he had enough of his rulership; 2 Kings chapter 23. Neco had the power, at his hand, to enter the Jerusalem palace and take him by force.

Israel’s army must have been quite weak or too frightened to fight this Pharaoh of world-power fame. With God’s curse upon this nation, its warring warriors were not at full function or so it appears. In years past, many nations feared the army of Israel. As America seeps more and more into sin and church apostasy, its military appears to be weakening too. Liberal progressives are manipulating to reform it into a political spectacle, rather than a functioning force protecting much of the world. Armed soldiers are told they cannot even fight back when Jihadist enemies surround them. They are commanded not to offend and countless soldiers now line graveyards.

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Jehoiakim and his son, Jehoiachin, are in the line of Christ through David. Jehoiachin, aka Jeconiah and Coniah, is also mentioned in this chapter of Jeremiah, verses 24f, when he takes the throne after his father’s deportation.

Egypt reigned over Judah in power before the kingdom of Babylon gained planet command. During this Egyptian domination, God permitted Egypt to be a thorn in Judah’s flesh as a penalty for disobedience. Egypt ruled in supremacy for 3,000 years, but not always dominating other nations. She was the lofty, prominent and affluent kingdom in her glory days. No nation in the world has ever held such a power of ascendancy for such a lengthy stand.

Yet, today, no one can locate a true Egyptian. God did curse and remove these people from the earth. Their narrative is always intriguing, though grievously pagan in all things.

Various Egyptians offered a Chinese appearance; yet, they displayed their own unique, dignified poise and stance. Traces of mummy DNA reveal them to be closest related to Eurasians. DNA testing on Ramses II, ancient ruler of Egypt, reveals him to have had wavy red hair and a fair complexion. Many blond-headed mummies have also been discovered. In Egyptian art, you view the white-skinned, black-skinned, and in between. There is a statue of a black king next to his white queen. Egyptians are quite the quandary for anthropologists.

Ramses I was the original ruler of Egypt’s 19th dynasty. There were approximately 30 dynasties which ruled Egypt over her esteemed history. Ramses were also addressed as Pharaohs. Jacob of the Bible and his family settled in the Ramses/Goshen area of northern Egypt when Joseph ruled in equal power to Pharaoh and was a father to Pharaoh; Genesis 45:8.

Peering at Pharaoh Neco II from 2 Kings chapter 23, his character is exposed as quite harsh and ruthless. Another thing you should note is he murdered righteous King Josiah—2 Kings 23:29. But what may surprise you, is I believe Neco may be in heaven.

What I am withholding from you is the fact Pharaoh Neco listened to the LORD God and acted immediately when He spoke to him. If you turn to 2 Chronicles 35:20-25, you will note some interesting facts. Neco, in this section, is on his way to war with Assyria (Syria today maintains some territories of ancient Assyria), the country which seized the northern kingdom, Israel; killing and moving the Jews into captivity many years previous. (I viewed a wall at the British Museum from the Assyrian age, in which, the etched artwork displayed working slaves.)

Unfortunately, righteous King Josiah wanted to interfere for some reason. He desired to fight Pharaoh aka King Neco. Neco let Josiah know he did not want to fight him, as God had commissioned him to war with the Assyrians. Neco wisely told Josiah, he could not stop and fight as God had ordered him to hurry! Josiah does not wisely approach God in prayer to check out Neco’s story. For some reason, possibly revenge, he simply wants to battle. God did command these orders to Neco, and this is why Josiah was defeated in battle and died. Verse 22 of 2 Chronicles 35 informs us, the words of Neco came from the mouth of God!

Neco desired to obey God and swiftly. This is why, I believe, he may be in heaven with righteous King Josiah, who obeyed God with all his heart—2 Kings 23:25.

Pharaoh Neco was not one to question God’s orders like so many others, including born again believers like us, and we will be in heaven despite our times of questioning and wrongly choosing to disobey certain Bible commands, though we should not disobey.

Jeremiah speaks a lament over King Josiah’s body in 2 Chronicles 35:25. Josiah did obey God all his life; he just made this silly error which cost him his life. He got in the way of God’s predetermined will. This is why our lives should be of prayer without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). We want to be seeking God’s will in all things so we do not make a deadly error from performing our own will. Wisdom placed within the Bible, including Josiah’s folly, is for our discerning betterment.

God was completely capable of using Gentiles in the Old Testament and He did. The Jews did not always possess a corner market on the LORD, as we see with Pharaoh Neco and King Nebuchadnezzar (who we witness being saved unto eternal life in the book of Daniel).

This 3,000-year reign of Egyptian power halted when Babylon treaded over providences as a destructive, devouring lion with eagle’s wings; Daniel 7:4.

King Nebuchadnezzar invaded Egypt, after defeating Israel, and demolished the control center of their power—the pharaoh lineage. Egypt never ascended to regal supremacy again following this rampage. Though we do know Cleopatra and a couple of others were influential in succeeding generations. However, Cleopatra and other Egyptian famed Ptolemaic leaders were Greek, these reigning within the Greco/Macedonian era.

Plus, we do not see any trace of resemblance of the ancient Egyptians to those occupying Egypt today. We know the current residents of this land do not possess the stately look and magnificent dress of the extinguished Egyptians, which we view in preserved artwork.

Egyptians were the most advanced in the world in science, medicine, artworks (Including retention paint that has endured through the centuries with multi-hue pigment displays. I wish I had such paint for our home exterior. I have been amazed at such vibrant colors when eyeing ancient Egyptian artifacts at the British Museum and also in Seattle, Washington, at a special traveling exhibit of King Tut).

Egyptians achieved much in the way of stately dog breeding, and canines wore collars with the dog’s name such as “reliable;” and were mummified with their masters.

Egyptians invented the first calendar. They devised the Nileometer to measure any rising levels on the Nile River and knew the exact distance to the sun. They invented a key for doors. They introduced papyrus paper for writing; and not until recent years, did a scientist uncover how they were able to make paper from papyruses. Papyruses were also accessed for rope, sandals and water vessels.

Moses received the best of education in Egypt, “Mighty in words and deeds … learned in the wisdom of the Egyptians,” as an upcoming Pharaoh, the only son of Pharaoh’s daughter, according to archived accounts. He most likely attended the princes’ school where he would have been educated in reading, writing, speech, hieroglyphs, mathematics, geometry, history, geography, cartography, chemistry (a branch of embalming) science, astronomy, medicine, etc. Egyptians far excelled in complicated mathematics, especially in geometry.

Egyptians expose the fact, ancient men were intelligent beings with exceptional skills; not a bunch of brainless barbarians living in caves. Of course, Jews proved in their Old Testament Biblical writings, they were not illiterate or lacking in any form.

Though, it must be remembered, none was found as wise, as godly Joseph, a Jew, in the land of Egypt, he exerting the wisdom of God in every situation and without receiving an elitist Egyptian education.

Moving into verse 1, God tells Jeremiah he is to speak His Words once again. He is to speak to King Jehoahaz. Again, God is requesting justice, and this time, from the king. We have read this all before. God wants justice done to the one who has been robbed. He wants strangers treated without partiality, in charity.

Verse 3: “Thus says the LORD; Execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled (caught or seized by force) out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.”

This grouping would be the social outcasts, like the Gentiles. I believe this could refer to Gentiles, knowing the Jews were all related in one way or another, brothers through Jacob. In the New Testament, Samaritans were viewed as strangers and castaways; they were not seen as true blood Jews due to intermarriage and other variables.

There was a court of Gentiles in the Jerusalem temple of worship, which can be viewed in the map area of some Bibles, mainly study Bibles, or in a Bible dictionary. You can view it on the Internet in the image section if you do a search.

Here is a video of the first Jerusalem temple, which may or not be accurate. It represents Solomon’s temple. It does not identify the courts and other buildings. However, it can provide an idea of the appearance of the first temple which existed during Jeremiah’s time.

Temple areas:

(Internet photo courtesy of Bible History Online)

Here, people (Gentiles) of all other countries could come to Jerusalem and worship the LORD in the Gentile court.

God holds welcoming arms to all, no matter one’s ethnicity or appearance. We see throughout His Word, He wants the poor, crippled, unattractive, uneducated, etc; loved without partiality. We also read in verse 3, the widows and orphans were to be cared for and esteemed like anyone of great ancestry. We are to associate with the lowly—Romans 12:16.

Verse 3 of Jeremiah chapter 22, was not obeyed by the king nor anyone else; outside of Jeremiah. Today, many believers do not love outcasts as they do their best-dressed friends.

In this same verse, God condemns murder. Today those in high places, like the kings of old, do not desire to see proper justice executed upon those who kill. Most states in America refuse to take a life for a life. Some circuit court justices do all possible to cease a planned execution.

We know countless murderers have been released and have killed again. Those who have committed homicide and have been acquitted due to technicalities, sometimes recommit such an act again. When justice is not carried forth, many are not fearful of breaking the law as we witness today. The shedding of innocent blood has become commonplace in many cities in our nation.

USA Today News: “The Pew Center on the States found that slightly more than 4 in 10 offenders return to prison within three years, a collective rate that has remained largely unchanged in years, despite huge increases in prison spending that now costs states $52 billion annually.”

A sad, short list of murderers who were not sentenced to death by swift and speedy justice and the innocent paid:

Recent example from Washington Post, April 2016: “Malcolm B. Benson spent 19 years behind bars after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in 1995. The 50-year-old from Highland Park, Mich., was released early for good behavior in January 2015. Police say it took only nine months for him to kill again. His victim, a 59-year-old Army veteran named Stanley Carter, was waiting at a bus stop on his way to work with a group of people when Benson shot him during a botched robbery …”

We are beginning to witness more and more gang violence in my area of America. Gangs were virtually unheard of here, twenty years ago or so. It is sad to hear of young people murdered due to a gang opposing another gang in various parts of our nation. They appear to own no morals and no desire to be a servant of love. Their swear language is unbelievably repulsive like their father the devil.

Several years ago, a gang member murdered another gang member which affected my husband who was an administrative Lieutenant at a maximum security prison— he is now retired. A prisoner was experiencing altercations with other inmates as it was his son who killed the other gang member. The father of the gang member who committed the homicide was transported to my husband’s facility for his protection. This father requested to speak to my husband, knowing he is honest, trustworthy and would not act unjustly or in partiality. This was the first step in creating a peaceful atmosphere, as much as possible in a prison. Of course, my husband ensured various safeguards were implemented during the fact-finding process.

The inmate was informative, which helped place the proper pin between the spokes, so to speak, to stop the rolling action of those who desired to spin the wheel of trouble.

After my husband was employed for a period, he gained a spotless reputation for integrity at the incarceration institutions, even so spoken of among the inmates. He is honest, upfront, and doesn’t justify evil, but exposes it. He is straightforward to all.

It thrilled my heart to visit the institutions and note all the positive comments offered to me regarding him.

Many years ago, a warden lost his job defending and protecting my husband when corruption was found in the ranks due to those in high governmental positions taking part. It was a distressing time and my husband received threats if he continued to investigate and expose the money laundering taking place by executive staff using inmates. We kept praying for all the truth to be made known to the community, and eventually all was exposed, and a few of the most prominent people involved in corrections were removed from their positions due to their crimes. I would say it was the local news story of the year. When the Attorney General’s office phoned our home, I believed the jig was up and about that day or the day after, the news of exposure rode across the airways.

We do still have some justice in our land but crime certainly isn’t taken as seriously as it once was and crime in Judah was not taken seriously as it once was.

God rightly tells it like it is when it comes to the unsaved and their evil hearts and so were we evil before God graciously saved us.

Romans 3:10— “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11. There is none who understands, there is none that seeks after God. 12. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that does good, no, not one. 13. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps (venomous snakes) is under their lips: 14. Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15. Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16. Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17. And the way of peace have they not known: 18. There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

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God consistently reveals love amidst despicable sinful activity. He loves all people and simply requests repentance. He provides chance after chance; like we observe here with this king and the people. God explains in verse 4, blessings upon the city will arise if turning from sin occurs. It just involves a change of habit. This verse is repeated in 17:25. God would have blessed if remorse had occurred! The prophecy would have been fulfilled with kings coming and riding in chariots and on horses through the gates of Jerusalem in all their splendor. The city would have been transformed into a spiritually joyful, active city, receiving bountiful rewards from the LORD.

We are provided with altering, future optimism knowing the Millennial will bring endless blessing to Jerusalem; and leaders from the world will converge on this city. Righteousness will be the desire of the Jews at this time.

If America chose to live righteously in Christ Jesus, she would receive the richest of blessings from God Almighty.

We have viewed mighty opulent blessings in many decades past.

Desolation is what is promised in verse 5, if change does not appear, the king’s palace will become a wasteland. And so will Jerusalem and all that remains of Israel. Yes, this, the city men once called “the perfection of beauty and the joy of the whole earth,” as Lamentations 2:15 records. (Lamentations also was written by Jeremiah after the fall of Jerusalem, whereby he exposes his heart of sorrow; yet, in faith.)

To King Jehoahaz God expresses His love, “You are like Gilead to me and like the summit of Lebanon.” God cares about this king despite his disobedience. The LORD graciously expresses His elevated fondness in poetic form. This is the type of love God has for all mankind. He desires all be saved because God so loves the world. His hands are outstretched to all. His faithfulness is great to those who turn to Him.

God explains, Jehoahaz’s throne is like Gilead; the area east of the Jordan River, which was once a plush, emerald, fertile land. Today the arid land of Israel survives by means of irrigation, being cursed, having rejected their Savior Jesus Christ.

God also compares the king’s throne to the summit of Lebanon which is often times covered in snow as these mountains ascend 6 to 10 thousand feet above the valley. A king’s throne is equated in all loftiness in power and authority like a mountain peak. In Jeremiah’s day these mountains were logged for their large amounts of cedar. These mountains are now fairly barren though some cedars can still be found, including ancient—one dated 3,000 years.

Despite the love God has for this king, judgment is arriving due to his sin. God exposes—He will make Jehoahaz like a wilderness. You can certainly compare what happened to Jehoahaz with cursed Gilead today which is now a desert land. God said the king would be like a wilderness. When God curses something it stays cursed unless a change of heart is evidenced. Though many curses will not be lifted till Christ rules.

We acknowledge, we all suffer due to what was placed on Adam and Eve. In Hosea 4:3, we learn, all became cursed including land, beasts, birds and fish due to the sins of the Jews of the northern kingdom and this will be the same for Judah; Jeremiah being our historian to this fact. “Therefore shall the land mourn, and everyone that dwells there shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the birds of heaven; yes, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.” God has removed fish from rivers, lakes and seas due to sin and He can do this at any time in response to disobedience to Him. It is sin pollution which produces famines of all scopes.

Hosea 4:1-2 warns—“Hear the word of the LORD, you children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.” Certainly sounds like America, observing its inhabitants drift away from the shore of safety. Verse 2 explains the sins of land judgement: “By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood touches blood.” In American we see mounting acceptance of violence and not just the acceptance, but leaders trying to invoke it, including those of the media set. People, including many police, have been murdered as a result and many rejoice because of it. It is a world gone insane, akin to Jeremiah’s day.

We have seen throughout Jeremiah that the LORD was cursing the land of Judah and making it unproductive, producing famine—21:7. The same God who cursed the land and this king, cursed the fig tree in Matthew 21:19; and it became withered. He also spoke the worlds into existence.

King Jehoahaz’s regent power would resemble a king ruling over a graveyard city, a ghost town, to hypothetically speak.

This was the destiny of Judah—his kingdom. A questioned place of burned desolation would eventually replace its current notoriety.

King Jehoahaz only reigned three months over Judah. God did not grant this evil regent length of years because he would not obey the voice of God and bring justice and righteousness to the land as his father, Josiah, had done.

We see in verse 7, the choicest of cedars would be cut down and thrown in the fire. The temple, Solomon’s palace and other buildings were made with the choicest of cedars from Lebanon; 1 Kings 6:9 & 15, 7:2, etc. When the city was burned to the ground as prophesied, people inquired, “Why has the LORDdone this to this great city?” (Verse 8) Foreigners would know it was God who did it for justice sake. Thosewho did not even know the LORD personally knew it was Judah’s God who brought judgment on His people for their compromising ways. Even the unsaved can recognize the hand of judgment upon the disobedient. This is why I will, at times, expose the fact, unbelievers know better than believers, how believers should live and act. They will say, they are supposed to be a Christian and they are doing so and so. If that is being a Christian, I want no part.

Believers can be so concerned with being contemporary and styling that they don’t think about the fact they really aren’t that much different from general society. They are leaving no mark that others might desire.

God, in verse 10, informs the people, it is better to die than to go into captivity. Those who survived suffered more. Most of those who were removed never returned to Israel; they never viewed their homeland again. The captivity was approximately 70 years.

In verse 11, God directs prophecy to Shallum or Jehoahaz explaining, he will be removed from the land and not return. As verse 12 states, the king never saw Jerusalem again and we know this is true because he perished in Egypt.

Verse 13 is a verse for all, though it is directed to the kings of Judah. “Woe to him who builds his house without righteousness and his upper rooms or upstairs without justice.” What a great phrase to memorize and keep in mind.

I easily can think of believers who need to heed this verse, knowing woe will arise upon them someday for disobedience and compromise. It is destructive pride which causes one to believe, I am a Christian so I can get away with it. Well, the Scriptures teach the opposite. I have never witnessed anyone get away with sin after 10 years or even sooner. It always catches up, comeuppance is lying under their doormat, waiting for just the right moment to come out from under for punishing discipline!

The next portion of verse 13 is observably similar to James 5:4-6 where Jewish believers were condemned for not yielding rightful wages. This verse in Jeremiah appears to deal directly with the king. He may have hired people to work, but refused to pay them and who would argue with the king who held the sword of life and death. It wasn’t unusual for kings to hoard riches and use the people of the land unjustly for personal services. It is the same today, with our government placing heavy taxes on citizens; wherewith legislators and the like vote among themselves to grant themselves a hefty raise.

Kings loved to accumulate property and here we see the king building a roomy, showy house at the expense of his subjects. We all know our present administration loves to use taxpayer money to fly to various places for the most lavish vacations with lavish expenditures.

In Jeremiah’s day, impressive decor of grand palaces required payment, resulting in inflated taxation which fostered more impoverished citizens. It was all about showing off too and entertaining to the hilt the impressive dignitaries who came to town.

The end of verse 14, reads “and painting it bright red.” This obviously refers to the ostentatiousness of the king’s home. Here in Idaho, we had an extremely rich man, J. R. Simplot. Besides owning a filthy mouth, he was the potato king of the United States, and was the 89th richest man in our country due to owning companies, land, livestock and investments, including in oil. “Simplot claimed to own more deeded land than any other man in America.”

He was believed to be worth 3.6 billion. Dying at age 99 made him the oldest billionaire before his passing.

Simplot owned a huge home on an everyone-can-see hill with a high-flying American flag that Boiseans could view from many areas of their fair city. I think this can give a clue or paint an adequate picture in red of the king’s home in this verse, which desires the passing envy of —See, look at me.

I will add, the Simplot descendants donated this beautiful home to be used as a governor’s mansion though it was never lived in, and it was returned to the Simplot family. “Ironically it has never actually been home to a governor with officials snubbing it lest they be seen as snobbish.” Imagine that, a good thing.

The grounds themselves would have cost $150,000 a year to maintain. This large house on the hill was demolished in early 2016 in all its ornateness.

(I was a friend to a lady who is friends with the current Simplot family, and they are most kind to her, even though she is disfigured from a car accident. My husband’s aunt, now deceased, was a friend of Simplot’s daughter.)

The king says in verse 14, “I will build me a wide house with large chambers, and he cuts himself out windows; and it is sealed with cedar, and painted with vermilion (red or scarlet paint, the styling paint of the day for indoors and out. Though still applied to Mediterranean, Caribbean and South America buildings which are often bright).

The rich in Jeremiah’s day often had tiled flooring or mosaic. And walls could reveal elaborate art with bright colors.

The point emphasized in King Jehoiakim’s day and can be transferred to our time, are the many who are more concerned with the looks of their home than the hurting ones in the streets who need a benevolent hand offered in God’s love.

Verse 15: “Shall you reign, because you closest yourself in cedar? Did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and then it was well with him?”

(God is asking, did you, King Jehoiakim, ever go without a meal or without a necessity? No, of course, not. God took care of him, as He takes care of believers. No worries!)

Verse 16: “He (King Josiah the father of Jehoiakim) judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? says the LORD.”

Verse 17: “But your eyes and your heart (referring to King Jehoiakim) are not but for your covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it.”

Yes, this so like many American leaders today.

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King Jehoiakim wanted a gorgeous palace and built one. Also Judah was in the business of competing in cedar with other nations. Ships, buildings, furniture, etc, were carpentered from logged trees, grown mainly on Lebanon’s mountains.

From the New Testament, we know Jesus was born in the home of a carpenter. Most likely, Christ assisted Joseph using choice cedars from Lebanon for carpentry.

A bit of history on ancient logging:

“Ashurnasirpal (883-859) has left the most detailed records of the logging activities of the Assyrian kings. His men cut four kinds of trees: erenu, surmenu [s-hacek], and dapranu in the Lebanon and Amanus, and burasu [s-hacek] in the Amanus only … This is known particularly, because of the Wadi Brisa inscription of King Nebuchadrezzar: in it he claims to have built a road and a canal to carry “mighty cedars, high and strong, of precious beauty and of excellent dark quality, the abundant yield of the Lebanon, as [if they be] reed stalks [carried by] the river” (Wadi Brisa inscription of Nebuchadrezzar in Brown, 1969, p.199).”

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The remainder of verse 15 addresses righteous King Josiah, Jehoahaz’s father. Josiah performed righteousness and God is commanding Jehoahaz to do the same. It went well with King Josiah as he was blessed for his obedience, and it would go well with King Jehoahaz if he too would obey in the same manner. This is akin to the gracious warning God offered to Cain before he chose to murder his brother Abel. (Genesis chapter 4)

In the following verses, we note the godly requirements for kings. In the Old Testament there were also holy requirements for priests. In the New Testament we have requirements for pastors in the books of Timothy and Titus. God wants His every word heeded and there is to be no compromise, and this includes all who are in some office of leadership. Leaders are to example godliness in all areas of life.

We note in verse 16, God is sincerely concerned with justice of the poor and needy. These are the sincerely poor and needy, not those who are too lazy to make a living. God calls everyone to be a diligent worker. Leaders are certainly not to turn over tax money to those who are all about doing drugs and being promiscuous, and who simply want to be entertained all day.

This is for the poor who are not self-centered and simply cannot locate work or are too crippled to be employed. Many people in this world fall on hard times—failed crops, being laid off, becoming injured and bedridden, suffering as a widow, etc. Our LORD God calls for compassion from kings or heads of state, in such situations, so circumstances are not worsened for the unemployed or others who cannot afford to buy food.

We know Jesus Christ mainly ministered to the poor and needy in fulfillment of truth. He loves the despised and rejected of men; those who are not of social eliteness. However, Christ draws all men unto Himself. It is He who wrote this command within the Godhead in unison, acknowledging the three in one only work in unison. They are never contrary.

One of the reasons I believe America is still being blessed, and I know, I have stated this before, is due to the fact many in this nation work to assist the poor and needy. Charities abound in our country. The United States, New Zealand, and Myanmar are the three top nations who support charitable organizations. Canada comes in fourth.

In 2015, in America, 68% of the population donated to charity, while 79% helped strangers and 44% performed volunteer work.

Verse 17 is totally relevant to today’s politics as God exposes the sin of this king: “But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for your covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it.”

Yes, most politicians are in it for the money and they love to grant themselves raises. They covet the wealth.

Pro-baby murder advocates have their hands involved in shedding innocent blood in the name of sexual promiscuity and greed. And today’s liberals stand with the violent of the land, offering them rights above the good citizens of America. They do not care how many are killed in the name of Islam, black power, and illegal immigration. We have many liberals who believe America deserved 9/11/01. This verse messages truth through the ages.

Verse 18, declares the people of Judah, the Jews, will not mourn for King Jehoiakim when he perishes. He was deserving of no respect. God’s offered this prophecy because God’s people, through the ages, were taught to respect their leaders. No one was allowed to curse a king under Old Testament law. However, with this evil king, God removed the standard of respect when this man was dethroned, deported to Egypt with a death sentence.

No regal spender normally afforded a king’s burial was to be planned by the wealthy elite. Judah’s populous would not line the streets, dabbing the tears in their eyes as his royal-robed, clad body passed by.

He was thrown out after his murder in Egypt, following his exile to Egypt, his body thrown beyond the gates of Jerusalem. Who would dare and try to grab his body with an Egyptian army possibly nearby?

God never lies and expects obedience to His words. In verse 19, we are told the king’s body will be cast outside Jerusalem like a donkey’s body. This did materialize because the king never repented of his evil deeds.

Sometimes a family will never claim the body of a relative who died in prison. They want no connection to such a vile criminal. Prison personnel simply turn the body over to the coroner; whereby, no memorial takes place. Sometimes the cadaver is donated for medical research by the coroner.

No one in Hitler’s family claimed his body of ashes and the ashes were buried without a marker. Most of his leftover family members, though excluding his spinster sister, did all to distance themselves from the man and Germany. The current, remaining relatives live in seclusive areas and avoid interviews.

Telegraph News:

“Three nephews of Adolf Hitler are alive and well in Long Island, New York. The only American descendants of Adolph Hitler are living quietly under assumed names. In about 40-50 years, barring death by unnatural causes, this bloodline of Adolph Hitler will be severed for all time. The brothers have reportedly entered into a pact that none will marry or have children. This will put an end to the irony and curse of the Hitler legacy in the United States.”

Mr. Ryback, in an interview with The Telegraph, said: “They live in absolute terror of being uncovered and their lives being turned upside down.” Hitler’s American relatives have consistently refused to give interviews. Even their lawyer has asked not to be identified. When contacted, he said: “If they came forward, then where’s your life after this?”

Mr. Ryback says that several of the relatives bear some physical resemblance to Hitler, pointing out: “If you block out everything else, you have that forehead and those eyes staring back at you.” The legacy of the Hitler name has brought a life of trouble for his surviving kin.

At 37:33 of this video, of Hitler’s family, you can watch one of his descendants, a distant cousin, interviewed:

Hitler did try to destroy all family records and graves by bombing his father’s city, acknowledging there was a Jewish name in his history. It was noted in an interview with a close family member, many years ago, that Hitler’s family members, when children, were not allowed to mention the Jewish ties (Jews were implied by speaker but not directly). This was viewed as an unspeakable blemish in the Hitler family. Ashkenazi Jewish DNA was determined from eight strands of Hitler’s hair found in Hitler’s mistresses’ room in her lavish brush.

The nephews, who are related to Hitler, chose not to marry, not wanting to propagate any offspring who would resemble their most notorious ancestor of hideous crimes against mankind. Also, most of those descendants who were birthed from those men who were Hitler’s chief Nazi commanders chose to be sterilized. They hate what their fathers did in exterminating millions of Jews. They have stated this before cameras, expressing the embedded pain they must live with their entire lives.

A great-niece of one of Hitler’s key men, chose to marry a son of a Holocaust survivor, a Polish Jew, and they have birthed a son. She is questioned because she bears the last name of her ruthless, murderous great-uncle, Himmler, who was the mastermind behind Hitler’s death machine. He personally ordered the death of millions.

We should remember, God completely cursed all of Judas’ family for his assistance in the murder of God the Son, the Creator of all.

From Psalm 109: “And let another take his office. Let his children be fatherless, And his wife a widow. Let his children continually be vagabonds, and beg; Let them seek their bread, also from their desolate places. Let the creditor seize all that he has, And let strangers plunder his labor. Let there be none to extend mercy to him, Nor let there be any to favor his fatherless children. Let his posterity be cut off, And in the generation following let their name be blotted out.”

It certainly appears, many in Hitler’s family and the families of his commanders, note the importance of applying this to Hitler too.

We continue in this chapter of strong rebuke where nothing good is said of anyone in the land of Judah. All are cursed by God.

It is to be preached in the high mountains of Lebanon, all the lovers of the southern kingdom are destroyed. This also includes the surrounding sinful nations, which will be destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar.

These Jews will not again commit adultery in the Holy Land, as there will be no inhabitants in short time future. Eventually, every single person will die in Judah or be forced to leave.

We read, in verse 22, all the pastors who supposedly led the people in worship of God will be ceased by the wind and will be no more. This might remind one of Revelation chapters 1-3 where God judges five of the seven churches mentioned for leading Christians into liberal false beliefs and sexual sins. These were fellowships in which the pastors allowed ecumenicalism (accepting of false teachings of idolatrous religions).

The pastors in Jeremiah’s day failed miserably when it came to holding to the Scriptures and leading the Jews in holy righteousness. Of course, we know from lessons passed, the pastors or shepherds became one with the false religions of the time. They had no desire to preach against the false teachings of pagan, idolatrous religions. Thus, these religions became acceptable and brought into God’s holy house of worship.

Jews thought it great to be one with the satanic occult. All in the way of worship became an abomination before our Holy God, and it is no wonder why the temple was eventually destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar.

We see three generations addressed in the closing verses. First Josiah who was a godly king, and then Jehoiakim, his son, who was cursed and then his son, Coniah, who too, rightly received the curses of God. Coniah was aka Jehoiachin and Jeconiah. Yes, he went by three names. He and his mother—the queen mother, were to be cast out of Israel for their idolatrous sins. Coniah and his mother would be slaves in Babylon, being of the lowest caste … no more uppity, high-held heads. They would never renew their reign on lavish thrones in royal, posh raiment to enact decrees. God never lies when He says idolators or idol worshipers, will be cast into the lake of fire.

I might add, Coniah is not the only king whose mother was reverenced in the kingdom according to Scripture. King Solomon had his mother, Bathsheba, sit on a throne on his right hand as queen mother in all due respect—1 Kings 2:19. Other kings may have done the same in Israel, though not recorded.

Verse 30, is one of the ultimate key passages in Scripture. Here we are taught the Davidic line of the kings will end. To this day, no king in the line of David has ruled over Israel. And no king of this line will until Christ rules the earth in the millennium. God never lies! (I might add, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel cannot trace any heritage back to King David and Josiah. And, of course, he is not a king.)

This is the punishment for the sins of the kings, who did what was right in their own eyes. This judgement was first pronounced due to the sins of evil King Manasseh, as we took note of in Jeremiah 15:4. Because this line of Solomon was cursed forever, Christ descended through the line of David’s son, Nathan, through Mary who descended from the ancestral line of Nathan. Joseph arose through the line of Solomon and would have been king of Israel, not a carpenter, if this line had not been cursed of God forever. Joseph’s genealogy lies in the first chapter of Matthew and Mary’s in the third chapter of Luke.

It will be a most blessed day when Christ takes the throne as a descendant of David to rule the globe from Jerusalem. He will be lavished in palm branches being greeted by multitudes—Zechariah 9:9-10; this upon His second arrival, not by a thousand or less, as when He first rode a donkey on the earth into Jerusalem—John 12:13f.

Jeremiah Chapter 23

“Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!” Declares the LORD!

Strong statement … Yes, but God desires pastors and teachers explain only the truth, never deceiving His people by leading them into pastures of falsehoods. God’s sheep are to be guided into complete accuracy, no tickling of ears, no compromise, and never-changing God’s Word by adding or subtracting, nor redefining.

We note muscular-similar statements recorded in Revelation as well when Christ attacks five churches for not completely staying on task. Tough judgments arise due to contemporary variations and laxness.

Much was uncovered when Christ exposed negligence concerning chastity as well.

When the church does not keep completely on task with the godly separated Word, the believers are scattered as they receive mixed messages. Discerning believers know the church is contrary to what they read in Scripture in most cases. They see little of what a fellowship is to be all about. There is minute exhortation on learning the Word inductively, though the church truly should resemble an old-fashioned Bible College where everyone is equipped thoroughly for service and in the knowledge of the Holy Word of God. The New Testament addresses believers who were all knowledgeable in Old Testament teachings and Christ’s—being extremely grounded in the Word of Truth.

Simply analyze Acts chapter 7, Stephen’s defense, and note how well he knew his Bible. He could fire Old Testament Scriptures like a fully automatic rifle. And the Word is sharper than any two-edged sword and it does wound those who disobey it.

The church was never intended to be a place of fun and games—there is no exhortation for this. Its responsibility always lay in equipping the saints so they would resemble Stephen and the wholly devoted apostles. We are commanded to imitate Paul the apostle as he imitated Christ.

If the shepherds were fulfilling their duties, there would be no time for fun and games, just serious equipping for ministry and carrying out the ministry—preaching the Word, evangelism, ministry to the hurting and needy, prayer, etc. The exercising of gifts arises through thorough Biblical equipping.

1 Peter 5:1-4—“The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.”

Verse 2 goes on to reveal more of God’s divulging words. The LORD God will rightly deal with the shepherds for scattering His sheep. He is going to attend to the shepherds for the evil of their deeds. These shepherds were not attending to the sheep. They were not discipling the believers in the truths of the Word.

Today, when sincere, desirous believers are not grounded by truth and example, some depart the church. When some notice little difference between the world and the church, they vacate.

The diligent believers who attend church to be spiritually challenged become disillusioned when all they witness is entertainment and socials, outside of the Sunday message. Often times, these Christians never find a fellowship that meets their needs. They learn quickly, it is all about money and how to draw the crowds for increased offerings. Many churches implement elaborate staging, ticket-free, eye and ear-grabbing entertainment, though donations are welcomed. All this to keep the crowds coming to the circuses with a tiny bit of a false Jesus thrown in. Numbers and fame are the main part of the churchy game we witness.

A mother expressed disappointment to me in this true regard. She could not believe it when she learned her teenager went to a Moxie Java coffee house for a time of nothingness fun, instead of attending a youth group filled with pure Bible teaching.

We witness much leniency in society when it comes to moral uprightness and this philosophy now permeates the church. When sin is present in the church, most people choose not to say a word. It is like they walk around with their pointer finger placed upward over the lips. Pastors or shepherds can even make people feel they have gossip on their mind if they desire to expose sin in the church through leadership discipline. Shepherds do not want to deal with the sin in people’s lives nor their own, so if anyone goes to the pastor with a concern, they are made out to be a troublemaker. Jeremiah would be considered a troublemaker in any church today because he shot straight arrows of sin’s presence. And due to this, it is most difficult to locate a fellowship where anyone even dares to teach Jeremiah as I have stated previously.

If believers in the church are living in sin, divorcing, not dressing modestly, flirting, engaging in dishonest business dealings, lying and using others, robbing believers through lawsuits, selling in the church, etc; then the leadership should be confronted with the church’s lack of discipline and correction.

In our area recently, it was exposed that Idaho’s most famed and respected pastor has been living in sin for 14 or more years, having a liaison with a married woman. And only God knows if there were other women as well.

I have a friend who confronted him with his adulterous sins years ago and he simply made fun of her from the pulpit. She saw him in the act when at church one weekday. Many knew and simply did not care, and others in leadership also played around and engaged in satanic sexual behaviors with liaisons. Praise God, our pastor confronted one of these men and he repented.

The adulterous pastor eventually resigned from the pastorate. Though, the reason offered was “He wanted to devote more time to missions and start a second phase of life.” This was a coverup, fleeing excuse. He was in unconfessed lewd sin. Fortunately, God says, make sure your sins will find you out. Almost a year later, his lies, adultery and deceptions were announced. The pastor never, himself, came forward before the church to confess his sin. And other leadership allowed him to lie to the people. It appears some people are still shielding his sin, sweeping it under a pew. Those who attend his former church believe he is now living in Mexico.

Christ addressed many sins in the church in Revelation and believers have a right to address them in proper Biblical ways. Going to leadership is the example.

Open-doored churches lead to open morals since general society has plummeted to the depths of degradation. 2 John commands don’t let anyone in the door who does not hold to the teaching of Christ. Churches are filled with people who do not maintain Biblical exhortations and many of them are in teaching positions.

As we see in Jeremiah, many outside influences had invaded Judah where God wanted all the influences of the world’s culture eliminated and kept far from His holy people. That is why they were to destroy all the surrounding pagan nations when they entered the Holy Land.

Verse 3 pushes us into the time tunnel of future promises and events. God is saying there is hope, being omniscient (all-knowing), He knows His people will be gathered from all the countries from whence He scattered them. A remnant will be saved and a remnant will return. The book of Esther reveals the Jews were in 127 provinces. We know, wise men came from the east to see the Christ child. These more eastern countries obviously had copies of the Scriptures, perhaps left by the Jews during the captivity. God used the captivity to bring Gentiles unto Himself. Some Jews stayed in foreign lands as not all chose to return to the Holy Land of Israel.

Intermarriage, unfortunately, became a part of the exile exodus which kept some Jews in foreign territory. We read at the time of Pentecost, Acts 1:5, many Jews came from every foreign land, knowing foreign languages.

When the Jews did return to Israel from Media-Persia—the ruling world kingdom which usurped Babylon, the Jews became fruitful and multiplied; they were no longer a remnant of Jews. Verse 3 assures the Jews would again multiply and no longer be a minuscule remnant.

I believe verse 3 can also refer to the future kingdom as the Jews will be drawn back to Israel and form a large nation under Christ during His millennial rule. As I have stated before, Jews are still returning to the nation from foreign lands and this could be a sign of pending end times of tribulation trials that will once again remove the Jews from their land— Revelation chapters 11 and 12 disclose this. Remember, Israel became a nation again in 1948 when the Jews desired to reside in their own territory experiencing devastation by World War II persecution and even post-WWII persecution.

Verse 4 draws us into the millennial period with great hope and encouragement. We know this verse refers to Christ’s reign as there will be none missing. Every Jew will return to his country. We also recognize this by the fact true shepherds will arise. Godly teachers will lead the people into righteousness. The land of Israel has always possessed false teachers and apostate religious leaders. The Jewry has never been completely free from bogus doctrine.

We read in this verse as well, they will no longer be terrified or afraid. The Hebrews have consistently been subject to oppression, being God’s chosen and an enemy of satan. In this day, Jews still reside in fear in Israel, being surrounded by enemies who would love to crush them. Jews can be seen carrying arms wherever they tread, including children. There is coming a day when they will live in perfect peace, under perfect teaching, and perfect unity as a nation under Christ.

Today Israel does all it can to please satan’s world, wanting to be societally coveted. Jews cannot understand why Israel is not loved since it is a welcoming and hospitable nation of all cultures and all sinful activities. They do not seem to grasp they are hated because they are still God’s chosen nation and they will never find the acceptance they desire till Christ returns to rule in Jerusalem. Satan will seek Israel’s destruction until the day he is cast into the lake of fire. And all Jews who reject their Messiah will be cast into the lake of fire one day.

There is no way one can say verse 5 is not a reference to the Millennial Kingdom. This is a verse directly addressing the Hebrews arriving, reigning Messiah. At the time of Jeremiah, they could only imagine their Messiah’s presence dwelling with them. Today, the orthodox Jews still only imagine a Messiah as they refuse Jesus Christ who was altogether righteous when He walked the streets of Israel.

I have covered how Christ is from the line of David as Matthew chapter 1 details. He is truly our only “righteous Branch!” And this explained in verse 5. He is coming as a sovereign King in a forthcoming era in dominance over the earth. We long for this exalting day.

Though these kings, we have studied, did not reign in righteousness and justice, we see hope offered by God through Christ Jesus.

Completeness and ultimate fulfillment are continued into verse 6. What hope is contained in this verse, knowing all in Judah will be saved! None will perish in fiery hell and condemned to outer darkness at this time. Jesus Christ is the only light, our only “Branch,” which can save us from flaming darkness.

There is coming a day when there will be no need for Gospel evangelism for all will be saved. We affirm from other passages that this treks beyond “Judah;” people from around the globe will come to worship the one true God. We see again from this verse, the assurance of security and righteousness. And no one will be allowed to live a sinful lifestyle nor will they desire to.

How reassuring for all believers to know. This ensures there will be no need for prisons since there will be no more bad guys. All will “dwell in safety,” and no vile person will be present on the earth. This holiness will be present in Israel and all the universe. What a blessed relief!

My husband was an administrative lieutenant at a penal institution and this thought brought reassuring pleasure amid the wickedness which surrounded him.

Verses 7 and 8 are statements of a future prophecy—the Jews will forget their deliverance from Egypt under Moses; instead, dwelling on their deliverance from the barbaric Babylonians.

These verses reinforce their reentrance into Israel, referencing them being led back “from the northland.” What a hope this was to those who read Jeremiah’s words when in captivity in the north and northeast Babylonia; that they would someday “return to their own soil.”

Remember, nobody heeded Jeremiah’s words at this time; though, as Israel came to her senses, this book was completely received and accepted as truth. All that Jeremiah foretold came to be. They received the fact he was an unfeigned, inspired prophet.

We have read Jeremiah’s own words of woe as he viewed his life and ministry being worthless. But this book has been a blessing to countless numbers since its penning.

In verse 9, we depart from narrative to Hebrew poetry, being witnessed often throughout this book. Jeremiah speaks his heart in this verse. We read of a broken man, a despised man, a persecuted man. And yes, he hates the people’s sin as God does. Jeremiah is overcome with God’s holy words, procuring him as a drunken man. He hates their adultery, not staying with one mate till death—not holding to the marriage covenant of fidelity.

When one forsakes their spouse for life, “The land mourns because of this curse.” America mourns due to “No Fault Divorce” which was legalized in the late 1960s and early 70s in the states. Formerly, one could only acquire a divorce for infidelity. Things have changed rapidly. It unlatched “Pandora’s Box”with cohabitation increasing by 80 percent since this legalization. It unfastened the clasp for the unspeakable. When no holes are barred, licentiousness reigns. Even some believers think “No Fault Divorce” is a good thing. Many Christians have seized advantage of it, leaving mates and children graveling in its dust.

We know the Hollywood mentality is bent on sensual agendas of loose living and its promotion through politics as well. Progressives are caught up in all forms of debauchery and they are recruiters. Progressive Hollywood elites want to promote and capture people through the silver screen and aligning publications. They employ star-publicity to promote all immodesty to seduce almost every age into the sensual … Teens today and others dress like prostitutes with short skirts, short shorts, low tops and low pants, and tight clothing. Lust is on most everyone’s agenda, not pure thoughts of chastity; inwardly holding no desire to view others as brothers and sisters in all purity.

When divorce and unfaithfulness hit the land of Judah, it paid the consequences—the pastures of the wilderness dried up; verse 10. God brought drought on the land which led to famine and disease, having been studied in previous chapters.

In verses 11-12 we witness God’s anger with the false prophets, shepherds or teachers, once again, as they didn’t preach against cheating and divorce. They relish in it too.

It’s hard for spiritual leaders to speak against that which they engage in. With 63% of pastors into porn and other vile sexual activities, morals are in a larger degenerated state in our day. Also, a huge amount of so-called Christian women are into porn. Is it any wonder few sermons are preached against immodesty, sensuality, fornication and adultery?

Of course, pastors just have to sit in front of the boob-tube to fantasize, where there are plenty of immodestly dressed whores. They are as close to nudity as you can get in many cases. Sexual acts are part of entertainment so church elders can justify it all before others as simply keeping up on contemporary agendas.

I must add, no one who is involved in porn or other impure behaviors can be in Christian service. A man in God’s service must be pure and so must any woman who is involved in children’s ministries. Christians cannot associate with sexually immoral fellow believers. The unrepentant must be cast out of the church; 1 Corinthians chapters 5 and 6.

Many years ago, a retired pastor referenced a man who spoke before an assembled people in ancient times. He yelled “freedom” and everyone cheered. Then he yelled “purity” and they drove him out-of-town.

Yes, things are bad and we can’t bury our heads in the sand and pretend evil doesn’t exist in our churches. Yes, there are godly pastors who will shut their eyes when evil appears to stop temptation, but they seem to be getting harder and harder to locate. We need to be those who speak persistently against all forms of indecency even if shepherds do not.

A Jeremiah and a John the Prophet/Baptizer we all must be. And we must intercede for purity for fellow believers knowing we are all weak apart from Christ.

Verse 11 testifies to the fact, all Judah’s prophets and priests were polluted, aside from Jeremiah. In other words, all compromised in various areas. Unfortunately today, believers like to state, “Well, everyone compromises.” That was true in Jeremiah’s day too, but one did not. May we always attempt to locate the one who does not!

We see punishment is on the horizon as verse 12 proclaims. Disobedience manufactures discipline. When we act upon what is right in our own eyes, we bring “calamity” upon ourselves.

We arrive at a history lesson in verse 13. We are ejected back in time to the northern kingdom of Israel, thus viewing their matching sins which led them to exile 136 years previous. They followed false gods as well and prophesied by them.

Verse 14 addresses adultery again knowing preaching against sin brings conviction and repentance. It is a grave concern seen throughout this book. And it is no wonder, God references Sodom and Gomorrah. Let’s take a test. What results when people approve of divorce and remarriage? Yes, you scored 50 points! Promiscuous sex rises on the scene. You have people cohabiting outside of wedlock. And people can choose to have a different partner every day. And if a woman gets pregnant, she has to perform a DNA test to secure who the father is. These kits are available at pharmacies and elsewhere.

What is the next step in depravity? Of course, Homosexuality. Another 50 points awarded! You receive an “A.”

We know it is true, we have witnessed it in our own nation and sin always pursues the same path. GOD SAYS “Marriage is to be held in HONOR among all, and the marriage bed undefiled for fornicators and adulterers He will judge;” Hebrews 13:4.

Judgment upon those who brought and allowed the sin to penetrate the walls of The City of David is on the horizon as we read in verse 15. God is sending judgment like poison. “Wormwood” is a poisonous herb that incites vomiting and convulsions and this will be akin to God’s judgement.

Pollution has been set forth and no one is stopping the large, black cloud of adultery and all else addressed in this book. It has consumed the land and no revival is on the horizon. No serious revival is on the horizon in American churches as well.

When evil hits a certain height, there is no turning back. Since liberal agendas hit America, there has never been a place of turning back. Since the church turned contemporary, it has never turned back to being separated from the world. “Ungodliness” has certainly penetrated throughout our land, as in Judah.

Here in verse 16, we see pastors or shepherds speaking their own doctrine and what they believe. They do not hold to Scripture verse by verse; instead, wanting their own interpretations heard, which are false. Of course, this is today’s church too. Countless pastors are teaching their own theology and it boldly contradicts the Bible. They can get away with it, knowing too many do not study their Bibles and want to be spoon fed rather than be Bereans who check all things in a scholarly way with Scripture.

What is most disheartening are the pastors who poke fun of Bereans—Christians who desire to learn truth! And today it is often the Bereans who are cast out of churches, not defiant sinners. They are too much of a threat to the false pastors and teachers. And if a church has a blog, they do not want the Bereans posting comments of truth and exposure.

Pastors must speak Jehovah’s words, not men’s. Teachings have to be completely in line with the whole council of God.

Verse 17 accompanies this ungodliness, there being no fear of God and the sinners believe they will get away with it. Few believers suffer the immediate consequences of sin, therefore they think they have slid by. But not so, the awakening day will come and their world will cave in, just as it did in Jeremiah’s day.

Verses 18-25 reaffirm no one succeeds in defaming the Word of God. God sees all. No one forecasting false prophecies will succeed. His comeuppance will arrive. God fills the heaven and the earth and nothing passes His notice.

We note from verse 26, those who lie about God’s Word know exactly what they are doing and no excuse can be assembled for them. It is all about them and not about God. We cannot look at these famed false pastors in our day and say, oh, they are simply misguided poor things. No! It is the plot of their heart to put their teachings above God’s.

Idols are addressed in verse 27. We observe elders and teachers today walking in the ways of idols, uplifting idolatrous Catholicism, and the satanic mysticism or new spirituality which accompanies this and other religions, such as Hinduism with its 33 million gods, which is a huge part of Yoga. Yoga is welcomed into fellowships and church conferences today. And those who question are the old-fashioned fuddy-duddies who need a foot kick out the door.

False doctrine is vanity and simply straw. Where the Word of God is preached without trendy compromise, you will locate the actual wheat or food of God as verse 28 reveals.

Verse 29 exposes why popular preachers want to preach falsely. It is because God’s Word is “like fire.” No teacher or preacher wants to make people feel like they are on the hot seat for their sin. Their populous will greatly decrease and so will the monies placed in the offering plate. The rich pastors today are not preaching hell fire and brimstone for the unrepentant ones.

God continues to explain His Words are like a “hammer that breaks the rock in pieces.” Now, who preaches this today? Is it not interesting how even the unsaved will reprove trendy preachers for their all happy messages when they are at times interviewed? The unsaved even note the fact they call themselves Bible-preaching pastors but deviate from unpopular themes that offend tickling ears. It has been the unsaved secular media which has uncovered multi-millionaire pastors who rob the poor, feigning to be in need, this through their investigations. One religious charlatan owns 13 mansions, a 50 million dollar private jet and a 100,000 mobile home for the dogs.

God makes it clear, He is “against” all pastors who teach lies. And this includes false prophesies which run amuck today in charismatic and pentecostal circles. As I have stated in times previous, in the Old Testament if a person made one false move in their prophecy, it landed them under a pile of rocks.

God is going to bring judgment on all the Jewry because they listen and yield to the false interpretations and added doctrines which lead to their own condemnation. They will be cast away from the presence of God Jehovah for saying this is what God says when God spoke no such thing.

I have heard pastors make up things from their own silly minds and thoughts as if they were speaking for God and recently, one of these men, most respected among local church attendees, was brought down to the lowest pit of disrespect.

The following verses can cause us to think we are in a pentecostal and charismatic fellowship, as you have those who want to speak prophesies and those who want to hear. It is like a wild game. They do not care about truth. They desire to believe God is still speaking to them even while in deep stages of sin.

Of course, many run to prophecy for a following. Men making up things to declare so people will come to them as if they are God. We see this running amok through pastors and writers. It is for vanity sake, not truth. It is not to uplift God Almighty and His holy ways.

If a person is not teaching God’s inerrant, holy and immutable Bible, he is in trouble. If he is saying God says this and it cannot be confirmed in Scripture, God’s chastising judgment is upon him.

We must not grant ear to anyone who misuses God’s teachings to make people feel good when they are walking the road of sin. This is sin and God is not a god of confusion.

Verse 32: “Behold, I am against them that prophesy lying dreams, saith Jehovah, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their vain boasting: yet I sent them not, nor commanded them; neither do they profit this people at all, says Jehovah.”

I heard the testimony of a Muslim who supposedly came to Christ. He told of his wild dream or vision that brought him to Christ, supposedly that is, in a video account. It was totally unbiblical and it is my opinion, he simply wanted to get attention so everyone would go, “Wow.” Of course, I will add, many Muslims are sincerely coming to Christ and this is a blessing to all believers. Of course, the LORD is always saving people throughout the world of every race and creed.

Knowing of the countless deceptions thriving today, is it any wonder why strict qualifications for pastors are placed under the New Testament covenant of Christ’s blood? These musts are provided in the books of Timothy and Titus and elsewhere.

Verse 36 warns us, God’s words can never be perverted. No one is allowed to invent an oracle or prophecy of God.

Verse 36: “And the oracle of Jehovah shall you mention no more: for every man`s own word shall be his prophecy; for you have perverted the words of the living God, of Jehovah of hosts our God.”

And here are the consequences of adding or subtracting from the Word of God for these Jews:

Jeremiah verse 39 and 40: “Therefore, behold, I will utterly forget you, and I will cast you off, and the city that I gave unto you and to your fathers, away from my presence and I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.”

God never plays games and He never acts according to the selfish and prideful ways of any man and it is by His holy standards men are judged.

So let every one of us heed these warnings to maintain close fellowship with our God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Jeremiah Chapter 24

Anyone want to be a good fig?

Within this short chapter of visual illustration, we will look at God’s inverted flower or hollow garden of flowers within, where which lies the correct description of the fig. The flower garden is within the fig and we partake of the delights of it with its vast nutritional benefits: “Figs are high in natural sugars, minerals and soluble fibre. Figs are rich in minerals including potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron and copper and are a good source of antioxidant vitamins A, E and K that contribute to health and wellness.” What is mind-absorbing, is the female fig wasp will sacrifice its life to pollinate a fig when it enters inside the fig, moving herself in the tiny hole, where the flower garden is located, pollinating the many flowers within and laying eggs and then dying.

The fig harvest, picked gatherings, should place pictures in our mind regarding the second Babylonian captivity of Judah under King Jeconiah and its last captivity under King Zedekiah. This visual illustration hopefully will remain in memory to teach us the importance of loving, serving and obeying God. It is grievously sad the Jews of the southern kingdom of the Holy Land of Israel chose the same fate as their northern brethren who were removed from their land for the same sins 130 years previous, though Judah’s sins were even more grievous. It all goes back to history repeating itself due to the chosen, sinful antics of men who are sure they can get away with their “naughtiness” even though the consequential facts laid in stone prove differently.

Due to the idolatrous and ecumenical sins of King Jeconiah and his cursed line, no king of the line of David has served as king in Israel inasmuch as God never lies. No one gets away with Scriptural compromise, maintaining a desire to “be with it” by saying I do not judge other religions and I get along with all faiths. These types of people would never expose the lies of another religion. They would never desire to be persecuted for God. They imitate the people of Romans chapter 1, they claim to be wise, being all-inclusive, but everyone can see they are fools who ride the wild waves of the ocean simply to be liked by satan’s children who follow the drowning agendas of misery and destruction.

Verse 1 informs us, the craftsmen and locks-men or smiths (from the Hebrew word) were removed at this time. Obviously, King Nebuchadnezzar wanted these gifted Jews put in slave work for the advancement of his kingdom. Consequently, prisoners and valuable items required sturdy wooden locks with keys. And no kingdom, no matter how great, always has its share of criminals who need to be put away.

From Wheaton Lock Service: “The first Egyptian lock, of 4,000 years ago, comprised a wooden bolt securing a door, with a slot with several holes on its upper surface. A device attached to the door contained wooden pins which would drop into the holes and secure the bolt. The key, also wooden, was a large toothbrush–shaped affair, whose ‘bristles’ were actually pegs that matched the holes and pins in the lock. To open the door, it would be inserted into the keyhole located below the pins and lifted, raising the pins and allowing the bolt to be slid out.”

It is probably safe to assume the Babylonian wooden locks were similar to the Egyptian wooden locks, being metal locks with keys were not present till the Roman Empire had advanced in major metal inventions within these years—870-900 AD. The Roman Empire fell in 1453.

Babylon the Great needed to maintain its world dominance in vastness, loveliness, and uniqueness. Endless people gifted with trained eyes and creative hands were necessitated in the production of all that men would learn of and seek after to keep the merchants in business and tax money accumulating for King Nebuchadnezzar.

This will be true of idol worshipping Mystery Babylon of the tribulation period which will be magnificent beyond comprehension due to people being graciously gifted by God; though sadly, they will employ their talents for satan and his devices. The two antichrists will covet it all and use Babylon’s riches and power to control the world and its inhabitants until God effectuates its destruction in accordance with ancient Babylon. Many will mourn over the merchandise lost—Revelation Chapter 18.

We conclude verse 1 with the introduction of the subject matter and that being figs. I happen to have yummy figs in my fridge right now from the Middle East.

We see there are two baskets of figs set before the temple where the people were to come and worship God with pure hearts in loving obedience. They were to be a sweet flavor before the LORD like good figs, not rottenness to His bones.

Jeremiah is a fig connoisseur. He can simply peer into the one basket and tell they are “very good” without even tasting. They were ripe figs, just right for the palate. And he immediately could tell the other basket was full of figs that the bugs could have.

We do have bon bon (good good) figs and bad figs seated here and this might remind us of the good and bad fish in the New Testament in Matthew 13:47-49: “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

The LORD God is most apt in teaching us by planting in our minds His simplistic illustrations of His creation, being executed in elementary manners that even children can understand including the parable of good fish, bad fish.

We note in Jeremiah, the good is separated from the uneatable, set in two individual baskets. With Christ’s fish parable, they too become separated from one another to illustrate those who are born again to eternal life in heaven from those who are the children of the evil serpent—satan. They will be cast into the lake of fire where there will be wailing and grinding of the teeth in perpetual pain and agony for rejecting the Savior.

We want to be good figs and good fish. We want to abhor what is evil and cling to what is good, serving others as Romans 12:9-21 exhorts. These verses are powerful attributes to intercede for regarding ourselves and other believers.

We note in verse 3, God kindly speaking to Jeremiah with a question to teach him, being God is the wisest teacher who ever lived. He is schooling Jeremiah regarding His loving kindness to those He will rescue from harm. God allowed these Hebrews to be taken captive to Babylon with King Jeconiah. This permitted that they might live and continue the Jewish race. God knew a righteous people would eventually rise up and repent of their evil ways when in captivity. They would come to see God never lies and everyone pays for their sin as promised in the Scriptures they knew.

God’s graciousness to His sinning ones is revealed here. He knows the past, present and future. And He knew a good outcome would arise for the Hebrews through many terrifying spankings by the Chaldeans or Babylonians while enslaved by them. This will be God’s second rescue of His children in captivity; the first being their rescue from Egypt by which they were brought to this land of Israel. God’s hands snatched them out of the clutches of a vicious Pharaoh and will snatch them out of the clutches of pagan lands when their required spankings have accomplished all that is needed. Spare the rod, spoil the adult.

Slavery was simply a sad part of life until the 1800s. Even in America’s history, native pagans owned slaves. Sacagawea, a Shoshone, was taken captive, led away from Idaho to North Dakota in the Midwest by a Hidatsa tribe at age 12 and then the tribe sold her to be a wife at age 13 to a French/Canadian fur trapper—Toussaint Charbonneau. She was delighted to see her brother (who was now the chief) when she returned to Idaho with Lewis and Clark. Clark penned “She jumped up, ran and embraced him and threw her blanket over him and cried profusely.”

Many whites were also enslaved by the native Indians.

Man’s sin nature of manipulation and control feeds his ego in all aspects including power over slaves. Though some slaves were simply owned to lighten the load of labor and were treated well.

Not until Christians began to preach and write about its evils did change take place in America when it came to Black enslavement. A Christian woman by the name of Harriet Beecher Stowe penned Uncle Tom’s Cabin—published in 1852. It festered a stampede of anger, pawing at slavery’s ills. This book was key to unlocking the bonds of Black people in America and afar. And for our education, we must know Uncle Tom was a good guy, not a bad man; a fictitious Christian hero who died on behalf of the Black people for their freedom.

It took a godly, on-fire Christian man by the name of William Wilberforce (who went to be with the LORD on the 29th of July 1833) to bring an end to slavery in Great Britain as a member of Parliament on a relentless campaign. He also fought for prudishness and modesty; uplifting every moral decency in Britain through pen and speech.

“What a difference it would be if our system of morality were based on the Bible instead of the standards devised by cultural Christians.” ― William Wilberforce, Real Christianity

He resigned from clubs, gambling, dancing, drinking, and theatre attendance after being born again. These were the things he indulged in before meeting Jesus Christ and having his sinful eyes opened and his heart cleansed. He was now a soldier for Jesus Christ and chose to no longer be entangled in the allurements of culture and sensuality. He married a pure, innocent, and modest woman of moral character—Barbara. She was not of a Hollywood character and Hollywood wrongly portrayed her in the immodest manner of cultural modernism. And Wilberforce was not portrayed in a manner whereby he condemned all that is sexually immoral and impure.

2 Timothy 2:3-4 “You, therefore, must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”

We move into God’s curses upon His people further in verse 8 and we note the rottenness of the Jews who own no true heart for the LORD. They are rotten figs which must be destroyed and suffer the worst of circumstances for their sins. These consistently broke all of God’s laws without regret and in all proudness of heart under King Zedekiah, assigned to be king of Judah under King Nebuchadnezzar. King Zedekiah proceeded King Jeconiah, who was King Zedekiah’s nephew.

Zedekiah and those remaining in Israel are like naughty children who will not yield to correction given by their father. Remember from past lessons, it was under King Zedekiah the temple was destroyed and the remnant of Judah removed into captivity, excluding the poorest of the poor or peasants and Jeremiah.

We note the Jews will be cursed and they will cause those who come in contact with them to suffer from their curses including “being a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse;” verse 9. They will be a terror to the people of the earth! They will be the night monsters under their beds when they close their eyes and dream fearfully. When awakened, they will find the genuine thing—a nightmare, come of the day, placed before their faces.

Many were shocked after WWII when the Jews were released from concentration camps. They truly appeared as those who had survived a nuclear blast.

We once again cover the fact 3/4 of the Jews will perish from the sword, famine and pestilence or disease of the entire nation of Judah. Only 1/4 will survive for continual brutal treatment and enslavement. All enjoyment will perish. Sadness, gloom, and pain are their future fates. David stated before he was afflicted he went astray. But God’s discipline upon him caused him to keep God’s Word and cling to it always. (Psalm 119:67)

Obedience brings blessings and disobedience God’s curses. And this why we need to study God’s Word to learn His will. We discerningly need to pray for His perfect will to be performed in our lives and others. Man’s natural will and desires lead to death resulting from self-promoting contentment.

It is interesting how the deceived believe it will be different with them when they travel a road of sin. They will be the exception to the rule of “reaping what you sow” or plant. If you plant potatoes in a field, you will harvest potatoes. Just ask any Idaho potato farmer.

To this day, many Christians are divorcing their spouses believing they can get away with it and experience all the fun of loose living. They will not accept the fact their God will judge them because they are saved and they hold a special place in God’s heart. They do not believe in just spankings and receiving a comeuppance from a father who knows best. They become oblivious to the planting fact. It is all about feelings and not facts. Sin is such a pleasure to them in the present. And they do not believe in discipline anyway. But if you could peer 20 years in the future, you would see they are far less happy than they were when they took their dive into sin. And are a petite shadow of the person they were when they were following the LORD in obedience. You would observe one who wishes they could turn back the clock and reverse their actions, though they may not ever verbalize those words. Plus, you would survey a trail of guilt for all the souls they injured and possibly destroyed in their pride of doing it their way.

Another sad way of our day is people not being willing to suffer in their marriages or other hardships, believing it is all about having a happy meal. We all need to study and remember 1 Peter 2:21-3:2.

Returning to Jeremiah, verse 10 lets us know they are forfeiting God’s gift to them—that of their land which He once blessed with milk and honey. And those who survive in slavery status will miss the land of Israel terribly and all the blessings that were part of this gift, including the best place in the world to worship Almighty God at that time in unabated freedom.

This is the last verse of this short chapter though chapter 45 is the shortest.

Jeremiah Chapter 25

Idol of Mary in Catholic chapel in SpainThe Mary dolly in displayed in a white and pink dress with red trim The dolly’s outfit is changed at times and the doll is marched through the streets in idolatrous worship

Repetition is the unending, sequential admonishment of the book of Jeremiah. This admonishment continually involves God’s hatred for the sins of Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel. Condemnation with admonishment will not end till this book’s last stroke. It is a long, prophetical book of warning for all. It has spoken to man’s heart since the time of its penning, though its application did not bear fruit till the miserable Jews awoke to the reality of it all in a detestable land of grotesque paganism.

Jeremiah has been preaching to the Jews for 23 years and there has not been one convert. No Jew is seen in a prostrating position of humble repentance. Unending grief held in the heart of Jeremiah “the weeping prophet,” is the result. And his soul continued to faint after the destruction of Jerusalem and the captivity.

The book of Lamentations is a continuance of Jeremiah’s poured out torment following the captivity:

“My eyes fail with tears,

My inner parts are troubled;

My liver is poured on the ground

Because of the destruction of the daughter of my people, Because the children and the infants

Faint in the streets of the city.” (Lamentations 2:11)

We plunge into chapter 25 of Jeremiah with the LORD’S words arriving again to Jeremiah. He must continue to preach even if no one listens. This is how relentless the love of God is toward His wayward people. And we know from previous chapters, 99% or more of the Jews did not listen and did not care. They viewed themselves as secure in their emergent or ecumenical (all religions are fine or are one) religiosity.

It remained Jeremiah’s desire and God’s to see remorseful minds. However, God, who knows the future as well as the past, understood it was an impossibility. These Hebrews were beyond revival. Though this was all true, Jeremiah still preached with his entire heart in loving concern for their fate. His messages were never offered in a proud attitude of I know it all and you are stupid.

We note in this Jeremiah episode and previous ones, God is never impressed with the work of man’s hands including in the area of idol or dolly images of worship.

I have noticed how many idols here and abroad resemble dollies. Of course, this is what they are. It is no different from bowing down to a child’s baby doll in worship.

The person of common sense knows no idol crafting by the hands of men is going to protect from harm or get anyone to heaven or cause a barren woman to become fertile.

In verse 1, we read King Jehoiakim is the sovereign on the throne. We have studied this evil, emergent/ecumenical king previously. Jehoiakim or Eliakim was righteous King Josiah’s second son, and reigned as king over Judah for 11 years. 2 Kings chapter 23, verses 34 and 36— “Pharaoh Necoh (or Neco) made Jehoiakim king in the place of Josiah his father . . . Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.”

These were the four sons of righteous King Josiah in review—Johanan the firstborn who never reigned as king; possibly perished before Josiah’s passing. The second was Jehoiakim (reigned after his youngest brother, King Jehoahaz, died in Egypt). The third son of Josiah was Zedekiah who was the fourth to reign after Josiah. The fourth son was Jehoahaz (or Shallum) who reigned three months as the first king to succeed Josiah. (1 Chronicles 3:15) I understand this is confusing as I have stated in other chapter commentaries.

We observe in this first verse, this is Jehoiakim’s fourth year of reign and it was King Nebuchadnezzar’s first year as king of Babylon.

Verse 4 and following brings us into more condemnation of sin. These Hebrews continually rejected the wise words of the true prophets, doing what was right in their own eyes. They enjoyed people tickling their ears through false teaching. The pastors basically told them they do not have to be concerned with their sins; all is well.

It is akin to much of today’s heretical teachings found in assemblies. All are welcome and it is all about relationships. Attendees do not have to worry about being convicted of sin to any significant degree. Simply come, make friends and enjoy the free, live entertainment.

One of the lies true believers need to be on the outlook for is, “It is just a matter of interpretation.” No, it is not! It is deliberately teaching falsehoods, using man’s teachings over God’s. I have been told this regarding demonic Calvinism—the religion of John Calvin (1509 -1564 AD) and other false teachings. There is much trickery injected into our churches by the present tares or weeds, and it often arises through phraseology to try to confuse the righteous believer who only stands on the Bible. Satan does appear as an angel of light and this must be kept in our minds at all times as good soldiers of Jesus Christ.

Turning to God and turning from sin is the message of verse 5. Under today’s dispensation of grace, it is akin to telling people they must be born again because they are sinners and need to be washed clean in the precious blood of Christ. Though being washed clean from sin was also taught in the Old Testament—Psalm 51, Proverbs 30, and Isaiah 4. The Old Testament paved the way for New Testament revelations including the need of a sacrificial Lamb to die for all.

God promises, through Jeremiah, if the people repent, they can remain in their land, the land given to them by God, “forever and ever.” It is an easy choice, but these rebellious ones reply with no way.

Many New Testament believers reply with a “no way” to God even though He promises blessings from Biblical obedience. Their ears yearn for the words which are impressive to them, they can live a life of sinful compromise and it is no big deal. They love preachers who tell jokes on Sunday, reference movies, rocks them out and keeps them off the hot seat of conviction.

They seem oblivious to Christ’s true words of Matthew 11:30: ”For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Yoke defined by the dictionary: “A wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plow or cart that they are to pull.” You can see photos if you do a web search.

True, obedient Christians desire that the LORD direct them through His inerrant Word of no compromise. This allows a lightweight burden which is abundant in spiritual blessings and perfect peace.

Verse 6, returns us to the subject of not adoring the things made by man’s hands which is a sinful tendency of the flesh and brings the anger of the LORD upon those who take part in making idols and who take part in their worship. People adore worshipping man’s creativity, conveniently forgetting all artistry arises from God—simply glance outside at His blue sky, His clouds, His foliage, His flora and His fauna and on and on. (Psalm 19)

Part of man’s creativity involves his inner desire to craft things with his hands for worshipful adoration. And my, how Christians can place an unbelievable amount of elevation on anything which feeds the flesh that arises from talents displayed. Lowliness of heart and mind are absent from the arts and its emphasis since it arrived on the church scene a few decades ago. It is all about the arts of entertaining hands or so it seems. And artists are lifted to great heights of admiration to the sickening of true believers who know only Christ should receive the praise. Not that believers are not to be grateful for those who preach and teach the Bible in its truest form and those who minister in other ways.

Books too are a source of man’s creativity, using the hands. Some years ago, my husband taught a Sunday school class on the book of James, verse by verse. People would pipe up with references to so-called Christian books which water down the truths of Scripture to keep the powerful truths of the book of James from being taught. It was all about sidetracking. It was obvious they were making a statement of don’t you dare convict me with the words of the Bible. It was about trying to manipulate and control my husband into submission and silence. It made me wonder why in the world they even wanted to attend. I guess to feel somewhat spiritual in a hugely rebellious way.

The Scriptures are sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing the division of joints and marrow, and soul and spirit. And it exposes the thoughts and intentions of the heart as Hebrews 4:12 teaches. If a teacher is presenting the Word of God rightly, you can certainly see this and feel it.And we all require the conviction of the Word to grow and change “from glory to glory.”

The discouraging way of our day is the lack of obedience to God’s Word. So true in Jeremiah’s time as well. The Jews always wanted to sidetrack away from the convicting truths Jeremiah preached. I will add, when my husband was teaching the book of Jeremiah in relationship to our day and age, many wanted his class to end. This was at the same church where he taught the book of James, though James was a class which followed the teaching of the book of Jeremiah.

We discern from verse 7, the idols, the works of men’s hands, brought great displeasure to our LORD and Savior. God announced, “That you might provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.” Because God loves us, He wants us reaping dutiful rewards. It grieves His heart when those who have a knowledge of Him forfeit the very best when they cast hate at Him in direct disobedience. It reveals the wicked foulness in man’s heart which deliberately sets out to sin to cause the God of all holiness to grieve. This provoking to anger does not bring God pleasure nor does the reaping of the consequences.

I recently heard a testimony from a man who was once employed by Radio Shack. He devised ways to swipe from the business undetected. He had a drug habit which needed feeding and a heart of greed which demanded to be fed. As time went on, he became terribly convicted and turned his life over to Jesus Christ. He later reaped what he stole when someone assumed his identity and charged everything to him. He then recognized sin held terrible repercussions. It was laid on his heart, he needed to make things right. He took pen to paper, writing down all the victims he could remember to prepare the way to request forgiveness. Of course, ultimately it is sin against God as David teaches in Psalm 51:3-4. Though it is proper to go to those we offend in humility and brokenness. Because our heart has a tendency toward huge pride, we have to pray for the filling of the Holy Spirit to gain humility to always perform the upright task. We all fail at times and asking for forgiveness is something we will have to do the rest of our lives.

This man was a witness to the fact God can drastically change a life. The truth lies irrefutable before the unsaved who views the new man and cannot explain it outside of saying, “Oh, he just got religion.” There are countless testimonies of people who have come to Christ due to the changed life of another. Praise God!

The apostle Paul is a perfect example of reaping what you plant. Simply observe him in the book of Acts—he watched Stephen stoned in all approval and later, Paul himself was stoned. He reaped the same type of peril for presenting the Gospel. God did restore Paul’s life as he still had much to accomplish in the modus of evangelism. (Acts chapter 7 and Acts chapter 14)

God, through Jeremiah, once again explains judgment is coming upon this people for their ecumenical ways of accepting all religions, that of joining hands with the false teachers in an emergent way, holding to the Deconstructionism movement (destroying the truth) which is also prevalent in our day in most of society.

Captivity and death are coming via the Babylonians who will stampede into Jerusalem so all reap what they have sinfully sown. It is always about planting with harvest when it comes to God’s judgment of mankind; whether the life lived bears tasty fruits of the Spirit or weeds of self-destruction as explained in verse 9 regarding the judgment on the Hebrews: “Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, My servant, will bring them against this land and against its inhabitants and against all these nations round about; and I will utterly destroy them and make them a horror and a hissing, and an everlasting desolation.”

Reading on, we note normal life will be disposed of, all those things which make for a thriving, happy society.

God’s prophecy which ultimately transpired, is penned in verses 11-13. The Jews were held in captivity in Babylon for 70 years. They lived under the tyrannical hand of King Nebuchadnezzar before they were allowed to travel home, back to the Promised Land. God never lies nor does His holy Word. All was accomplished as Jeremiah forecasted.

Even though the nation of Babylon was assigned the task of destroying the known earth of that day by God’s design, they had to be judged for all their sins. This included the fact, they harmed the apple of God’s eye—Israel. No nation was permitted to do this. Though Babylon executed the mission, being predestined to do so, it had to pay. Babylon held no care in the world performing this nor bore a concern pertaining to any rising curse.

We have set before us predestination and free choice all wrapped into one. Many cannot comprehend this concept. This is where prayer comes into play. Whenever questions or doubts arise in our minds we can plea for the wisdom of Almighty God who can increase our faith in all things taught in the Word no matter how intangible.

The New Testament affirms God died for all and anyone who calls upon the name of the LORD can be saved—whosoever believes. John 1:29 tells us “Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” No, not a small portion of the world. Predestination and chosen are also taught. Believers were chosen and predestined before the foundation of the world (Ephesians chapter 1 and other passages) and we know Jeremiah was set aside for God’s service while in his mother’s womb; as was John the prophet/baptizer—Luke chapter 1, and Paul—Galatians 1:15. God called Israel from the womb—Isaiah 49:1f. David wrote God helped him from his mother’s womb—Psalm 139.

Yet, we know a man can still say no to God. David said no to God the times he chose to sin. He still had a free will. We are not made to obey like a robot, believing we had no choice in believing. And believers can say no to God and dive into sin and they do. Most believers have fallen at one time or another due to owning the right to sin. We know from 1 Corinthians chapter 11, some believers sin right up to their death and the death or sleep may be the judgment of God upon their chosen, sinful wills of choosing to say no to the LORD of the universe.

King Nebuchadnezzar was predestined to destroy God’s chosen people, as His servant, a man of little or no conscience.

“The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil;” Proverbs 16:4.

A proud King Nebuchadnezzar was chosen for the day of evil; yet, later his pride was extinguished and he chose God, offering good fruit by exalting God in all His omnipotence: “How great are His signs, And how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And His dominion is from generation to generation . . . Those who walk in pride He is able to put down.” (From Daniel chapter 4)

This pagan king’s salvation was enacted through the witness of godly men and through the convicting of the Holy Spirit with the LORD’S hand of discipline. This king was predestined for two purposes; yet, he chose God because he wanted to. Any Christian knows they choose God because they want to be saved. They are enlightened to the truth and desire it. I wanted to be saved! God did not push me down and beat me so I would have no choice. It was 100% the love of God coming to me from the salvation invitation.

King Nebuchadnezzar was chosen as a dishonorable vessel and a valuable vessel. He did accomplish God’s will through both. Obviously, the honorable vessel status is the chosen, spectacular best. (Romans chapter 9) Pharaoh was a wholly dishonorable vessel, being one who never repented.

God ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts far above anything we can contrive, and all performed through His holy and perfect ways. One day we will no longer peer through a dim mirror (1 Corinthians 13:12) and will understand it all, including the fact we are chosen and all who call upon the name of the LORD will be saved.

God desires none perish but all come to repentance and this is why God gave His Son for all. God saved Nineveh, employing Jonah, because He knew the Ninevites simply had to hear the Gospel and they would repent. How can they hear without a preacher who must be sent? The harvest is plentiful always, but the laborers few so we must keep interceding for abundant laborers everywhere. We must seize opportunities to witness as well. 2 Corinthians 4:15 teaches, “For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.” The many who come to Christ causes us to partake in thanksgiving and it glorifies the LORD.

The subject of slavery appears in verse 14. Mankind has been placed into slavery throughout history. Since we all sprouted from Adam and Eve, there is most likely not a one of us who has not owned ancestors who experienced slavery, though this could be in numerous centuries past. The Jews have experienced much in the way of slavery, arrest and captivity. “For many nations and great kings will make slaves of them (the Jews), even them; and I will recompense them according to their deeds and according to the work of their hands.”

Verse 15-27 are totally amazing verses, expressing the concerning love of God in warning, this in hopes all the nations might repent. Obviously, none of the kings took this seriously as there was not one nation which was left unharmed.

Jeremiah was sent to all the nations to make them drink their judgment, understanding they had been warned. God was bringing justice for disobedience through the sword. (Verse 16)

We do not own the exact details concerning Jeremiah traveling to every kingdom and presenting the cup of horrific consequences for all the sins surrounding image worship. It appears the same cup of illustration had to be drunk by every sovereign of every nation and every nation did partake according to verse 17. Though we note in verse 28, if they did not drink, it would not prevent the kings and subjects from drinking the deadly results of their idolatrous sins. For God says in verse 27—”Drink, be drunk, vomit, fall and rise no more because of the sword which I will send among you.”

God could have transported Jeremiah through supernatural intervention to each local in His omnipotency as He flew Philip away after he witnessed to the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts chapter 8. Supernatural happenings may have accomplished this, though we do not know. Jeremiah could have traveled to each far-reaching city with God swinging open the doors for the partaking of the analogical cup by the sovereigns of each nation.

We simply assert Jeremiah obeyed God in all things and “made” them to drink, which would say they understood God’s coming wrath completely if they did not repent. If they did not drink, God made it clear they were to know, judgement was still arriving.

God lists Israel as well amongst all the nations to be judged in verse 18. It additionally states Israel will be a curse, a horror and a hissing which includes its political elite.

These nations were told they would not rise again from the ashes of this judgment and they did not. Only the nation of Israel was rebuilt from the embers of her death.

Please note God’s harsh, penned words spoken via the prophet Jeremiah in the power of the LORD: “And it will be, if they refuse to take the cup from your hand to drink, then you will say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “You shall surely drink! “For behold, I am beginning to work calamity in this city which is called by My name, and shall you be completely free from punishment? You will not be free from punishment; for I am summoning a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth,” declares the LORD of hosts.” (Verses 27-29)

Turning the corner to walk on another block, we pivot our feet to travel to end times, revelational happenings; often stated by the LORD through this phrase “in that day” or “on that day.” This is where we enter tribulation truths of the arriving apocalypse through our mind’s eye.

First, it must be understood everything Jeremiah prophesied did come to pass. The book of Revelation explains God’s judgment falling on the entire earth including destroying 1/3 of the globe and its inhabitants. When this occurs, it will be far more devastating than what transpired in Jeremiah’s day. And the plaques will be insurmountably more terrifying. These apocalyptic plagues which resemble the plagues of Egypt will be incomprehensible in comparison.

And do not doubt, “Those slain by the LORD on that day will be from one end of the earth to the other. They will not be lamented, gathered or buried; they will be like dung on the face of the ground.” (Verse 33) The rivers and sea will be turned to blood as God states—Revelation 8:8, 16:3-4, and 11:6. The rivers turned to blood in Egypt, including the Nile River, when God cast His judgment. (Exodus chapter 7) And the world’s waters will be turned to blood on that day; the days of Armageddon.

Verses 34-38 deal with the pastors or shepherds in Jeremiah’s day who were all false teachers, who shook hands with all religions. They will cry and wail over the deadly mess of their sins. The prevalent demonic belief of our day is God accepts all people and belief systems and it was no different in the Old Testament days of old. And as I say, time and time again, this is apostasy and today it is the apostasy of the church. No one gets away with representing the LORD falsely which is by adding to or by subtracting from the Word of God.

All the false pastors or shepherds were removed from teaching their flocks all the false ecumenical doctrines which brought tremendous judgment on the land of the southern kingdom of Israel. In past lessons, we learned 1/3 were killed by disease, another third by the sword and the remaining third were removed into captivity. The Bible states be sure your sins will find you out and they were found out. The false teachers stated no judgment was arriving and all was well. Jeremiah chapter 39 is the chapter in which reality strikes and Jerusalem becomes a captive state. No one gets away with lying about God and His holy Word. God’s fierce anger, that of a lion, brought horror to all the Jews. God, like a lion, left His hiding place or lair to bring deadly judgments beyond comprehension.

We must not forget His vicious anger opposes the false teachers of our day and plagues are promised to reach those who dare change a dot or tittle. These teachers need to take heed to the book of Jeremiah. Though it is obvious, they own no fear of God and the prophecies regarding last days’ apostasy. These spoken words of arriving acts of terrorism are scoffed at. The apostates of our day are no different from the apostates of Jeremiah’s day who run amok in our fellowships and wash away much of Scripture including last days’ judgments.

Some Christians have traced the apostasy to a relevant form of Hegelian dialectics—a system whereby a religion for all is fabricated. Hegelian dialectics is present in most churches as well as being engraved deeply in culture.

You doubtlessly have noted all the gigantic churches with elaborate staging which have emerged in recent decades. Placed on the marquees of these entertaining theaters are words which reflect the attitude, all are welcome, no matter what. Yes, no restrictions whatsoever!

It is believed all of society now has a place in Christian worship. This worship almost always includes a wild rock band which is flashy and notably camera-oriented. And to no surprise, I have heard it stated you will be able to hear all your favorite rock bands in heaven, Christian and unchristian entertainers. Some seem to think Elvis will even be there, though he was a diabolical, sensual character till the end, being exposed on video and by testimonies.

So-called Christian rock groups adore the satanic groups as exposed in interviews in magazines and videos. They also unashamedly display satanic symbols on their albums. I can shudder to think of the insanity of it all in today’s apostate setting.

John Calvin (1509-1564) believed in general society owning worth. He believed society would conquer satan. Calvin: “Wherefore, the sense will be (in my judgment) that the human race, which satan was endeavoring to oppress, would at length be victorious.” “To mean the posterity of the woman generally.” He attached Christians to this equation further into his commentary on Genesis 3:15. Calvin did deny Jesus Christ by penning these words which teach it was not Christ who bruised satan on the head at the time of His crucifixion. This alone makes Calvin a false prophet, blasphemer and heretic. He presents a different, false Christ and we are not to welcome anyone who comes to us with a different Gospel of Christ Jesus.

Believers have to be holding forth the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, at all times so we never fall prey to any doctrine of man! Calvinists and others who follow blasphemers are welcome into fellowships; therefore, we must ensure our sword is held outward at all times to test the spirits.

Some Calvinists wear their Calvin badges boldly for all to see, though others are sneaky about coming to you with this false gospel. It often starts with, “Are you a Calvinist or an Armenian (follower of Jacobus Arminius, 1560-1609 AD, who is considered a liberal reformist)?” These cultists begin with this to convince you, you have to be one or the other which is a lie of satan. We simply want to be Bible-believing believers from cover to cover with no added men and their doctrines. No one needs John Calvin or any man. The Bible commands we not label ourselves with a man in 1 Corinthians chapters 1 and 3!

Christ did bruise satan on the head at the time of His crucifixion and satan bruised Him on the foot only! Christ defeated the curse of death, being victorious over the grave, which enables men to be saved from the lake of fire through salvation by His finished work. Satan did not succeed in his plot to bring an end to God the Son.

We might be also mindful of the fact, Satan attempted to murder Christ at the exact time of His birth (Revelation chapter 12) and sometime after (Matthew chapter 2).

In Revelation chapter 20, we observe the scene where satan is cast into the lake of fire by an angel through the agency of Christ following the tribulation. Satan’s influence on the earth will end at this time, though he is released following a thousand years, after the millennial period. Calvin did not believe in any of these truths of God; he basically threw away God’s holy Word when it came to prophesy even as far back as Genesis in allegiance to the Roman Catholic Church under Augustine. Owning Catholic influences caused Calvin to believe in infant baptism writing all who objected were “seducers” and “those who overthrow the truth of God.” Calvin believed anyone who disbelieved his religion was worthy of incarceration and even death. I believe Calvinists have angrily come after me because they see no error in using Calvin’s persecuting tactics.

Calvin believed satan would be bound some generations past the time of Adam and Eve. True Calvinists believe satan is bound in the abyss today and society is relevant to Christianity. Calvin in allegiance to Augustine believed satan was already bound. Augustine died in 430 AD. Much of Calvin’s writings were stolen from Augustine—a worshipper of a false Mary and other false deities. He was simply full of satanic doctrines and this is confirmed in Roman Catholic Church history.

The God of the Bible, from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, is not a god of confusion, but Calvin’s god is a god of total confusion. This is why many of his followers would rather not spend much time in the Bible. This is quite odd as true believers should hunger and thirst to know the Scriptures.

As Calvin held to society’s worth so does Rick Warren’s religion which teaches society’s worth within his “paradigm shift” or model shift. Warren is pro-homosexuality and every evil thing under the sun. He stands with homosexuals assisting him in escorting peace to the earth—a false “Kingdom Now” phenomenon of ecumenical people who reject much in the way of Biblical truths. He has stated before the camera, the Catholic pope is our pope. He unites himself with all false faiths and the vilest of entertainers. Undoubtedly, Warren is a type of the antichrist of the one world union and religion.

Many so-called famed believers walk hand in hand with Warren. Franklin Graham (Info about him: https://vallee7.wordpress.com/category/billy-graham/ ) who is also an emergent or ecumenical heretic stands behind Warren or so it appears from what he has penned. Warren stood with Obama as president who is also a type of the antichrist. The apostasy is grave, and even though this is so, you will not find any popular preacher exposing the false doctrines of self-styled Christianity. Contrariwise, pastors will refer to the apostates and their writings in a positive way to sound styling before their congregants. I am not aware of any local pastor who would dare to expose from the pulpit. Though I would hope there are pastors somewhere. Christ Jesus has to be the only one we stand upon.

Some believers see a connection with Georg Wilhelm Hegel (1770-1831) and our styling, unseparated fellowships. He was much about replacing something old with something new. Today in its secular sense, it is equated to overthrowing a voting republic with communism or Marxism to create a new way of thinking. Karl Marx adopted Hegelian dialectics though tweaking it to make it Marxist dialectics. Liberals state the Constitution is outdated and must be replaced, though they do not mention Marxism and communism are ancient as well.

Hegelian dialectics removes old age wisdom with a new age anything goes dialectics or reasoning. It is a paradigm shift. When it comes to Christianity, traditional Bible doctrine succumbs to theological post-modernism; whereby, most Scripture is no longer held sacred.

Hegelian dialectics is present in most churches as well as being engraved deeply in culture. This is why liberal fellowships want to bring culture into the church structure and remove the idea we simply need to believe in the Bible as separated and peculiar believers in the Savior.

Many strive to locate something new and believe Hegelian dialectics is a new course to follow even though Hegel is a product of history. Hegel’s ideas are not new and we read in Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 how silly society was in Solomon’s day—always seeking something new, people saying come here to see the latest new thing.

Worldly, styling churches claim God first, me second, or “I am second” as being the new trendy way to think and talk religiously. I must ask, what happened to consider each person as being more important than yourself? (Philippians 2:3)

Nonconforming true believers who are not in search of all things new or new modes of reasoning (dialectics) are often pushed out of the church. They might be offered warnings previous to the forceful act though not always. God commands Christians to not conform to any aspect of any satanic heresy, which is mainly produced by pastors who want their churches on the map for fame-sake and lucre-sake.

We have arrived at the halfway mark of the book of Jeremiah segmented by chapter count. Don’t you feel as if you have accomplished much?Well, you should as this is a large book and its content challenging at times. Thanks for hanging in there with Jeremiah through all his trials including the trials of his death warrants. Fortunately, this man of faith was willing to die for the LORD His God. Many have stood in his shoes including the approximate 100,000 believers around the world who sacrifice their lives for their Savior each year. Of course, no one knows for sure the exact number. Notorious North Korea persecutes Christians and leaves no record of lives lost. This nation is the greatest consumer of innocent, human lives. Tens of thousands of Christians are tortured, imprisoned and murdered for their faith in this closed nation. A Korean will receive a 15-year prison sentence of hard labor in a prison camp if caught with a Bible. When Korea was free, Christianity flourished. This previous to the Korean war—1950-1953.

“Islamic oppression fuels persecution in 8 of the top 10 countries where persecution exists.”

“Every day six women are raped, sexually harassed, or forced into marriage to a Muslim under threat of death due to their Christian faith . . . ” This according to persecution news.

Sincerely, coming to the Savior means willingly carrying our large stake down the road of death if necessary. Christ made it clear that all must count the cost before coming to Him. And as God states, we do not know what a day may bring.

Easy believe-ism today sets before the unsaved world a facade representation that says it’s all about activities and having fun—akin to joining a social club. This is how the contemporary church presents salvation in Christ. He never painted such a picture! His pattern for us was a bloody sacrifice nailed to a tree. (And as I have stated previously the Greek word is “tree” or “stake.” “Cross” is not located in the ancient texts and crosses have been used in pagan worship close to the beginning of time.)

And some have given there lives in America for refusing to deny Christ in a most bloody way:

“An anti-Christian gunman stormed into a classroom at Oregon’s Umpqua Community College in 2015 and this is what ensued:

Kortney Moore was inside the classroom. She told the Roseburg News-Review that the shooter ordered students to get on the ground — and then told them to stand up and state their religion.

‘And they would stand up and he said, ‘Good, because you’re a Christian, you’re going to see God in just about one second,’ Stacy Boylan said in a televised report. ‘And then he shot and killed them.’

His 18-year-old daughter was struck in the back by a bullet – that traveled down her spine. She survived. Miss Moore, too, survived.

Davis Jaques, publisher of the Roseburg Beacon News, said he received a text message from a student who said she was inside the classroom.

‘The shooter was lining people up and asking if they were Christians,” the message read. ‘If they said yes, then they were shot in the head. If they said no or didn’t answer, they were shot in the leg.”

Yes, today’s American martyrs.

Another Oregon report: ROSEBURG —”Lacey Scroggins, an 18-year-old, wouldn’t have been sitting in church Sunday if it weren’t for the classmate who saved her life.

Her father, the pastor, is certain of that. On Sunday, after addressing congregants at a church service, Randy Scroggins spoke with The Oregonian/OregonLive and described how one of his daughter’s classmates shielded his daughter from the hail of bullets that killed nine people and wounded nine others at Umpqua Community College on Thursday …He pointed the gun at a student and shot without hesitation. Lacey was lying on the ground, her forehead pressed against the backs of her hands.

‘You, in the orange,’ the shooter said to a student. ‘You, in the orange shirt, stand up.’ The shooter asked if he was a Christian, Lacey told her father. The student said yes. Lacey heard a pop, then a thud.

He called another student to the front of the room and asked the same question regarding being a Christian. Lacey heard him yell that he’d been shot, too.

At some point during the chaos, Chris Mintz, a student in a nearby classroom, an Army veteran, came to see what was wrong. He was shot multiple times in the doorway. Mintz is recovering in a hospital and has been praised as a hero for reportedly running at the shooter to save other students.

Lacey told her dad she remembers a barrage of gunfire when the police arrived. When it was safe, she got up and used her scarf as a tourniquet on a victim. She helped another by telling them to plug a bullet wound with a finger.

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And we have the martyrs in Sutherland Springs, Texas, who were gunned down by a demonic madman while in a church in 2017. Survivors still request prayer as the pain lives on.

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In this chapter of Jeremiah, we are set under the rulership of the King Jehoiakim, possibly his first year, as it states “in the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim.”

Jeremiah is commanded by God to stand in the court of the temple or Lord’s house as he is to speak to all the cities of Judah who congregated for worship. This may have been a Sabbath day; that is, a Saturday.

God reminds Jeremiah he is not to omit a word from God’s Words.When it comes to revealing Scripture, we are never to omit words; what is spoken or written is never to deviate from God’s true intent. We are grateful the translators of the Bible have held to this command and we possess several accurate translations from the original languages of Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek—actually, Koiné Greek which is a later development of Classical Greek—more complicated Greek used by scholars. Koiné is considered Biblical Greek or Hellenistic.It is considered the everyday language of Greeks. It is similar to present-day Greek.

(When we were in Athens, Greece, we traveled up the walkway leading to the ancient hill of The Acropolis. Along the walk, you view the apostle Paul’s message to the people of Greece set on a plaque; his message preached to the Greeks on Mars Hill and recorded in Acts 17. The message on the plaque is in Greek, written for the people of Greece. It reminds people that God hates idol worship in any form and salvation is found in the only true God of all, “in whom we live, move and have our being.”)

Laban (Rachel’s father) and King Nebuchadnezzar spoke in Aramaic as well as others. The Jews spoke Aramaic when they returned from Babylon. Christ spoke it a few times as well. Though there is a bit of Aramaic in both testaments, most of the New Testament was penned in Greek and the Old Testament in Hebrew.

We know God desires that every man be saved so none suffer through all eternity in the Lake of Fire. Verse 3 of this Jeremiah chapter reveals this and so does 1 Timothy 2:4. God discloses His concerned love and tender heart here as He lets Jeremiah know He desires none perish and all repent. From verse 3—“that I may relent concerning the calamity which I purpose to bring on them because of the evil of their doings.”

God keeps Jeremiah keeping-on even though He knows their future of non-repentance. Though these Jews did not take heed, this book was placed in the hands of countless numbers to reveal God’s love so future generations would turn to Him and away from evil.

Of course, the whole discourse of Jeremiah is a revelation of God’s longsuffering charity which could not be denied.

What always irked God was the fact, He faithfully sent His servants to His disobedient children, yet there was never a time of prolonged obedience. They would not listen to most of these devout prophets till after the judgment blade fell upon them; verse 5.

In verse 6, the city of Shiloh is set before us. Genesis 49:10 informs us, this is a title for the Messiah. This exalted appellation was also conveyed to a city in Israel which was the original place of worship when the Jews entered the land under Joshua. This was where the tabernacle sat and where worship ensued. Isn’t it interesting their original place of worship was named in Christ’s honor, but because of sin, God had to destroy it? Shiloh seemed to flourish during the time of righteous Eli who acted as judge, but when his evil sons, Hopni and Phinehas, came on the scene, desecrating the tabernacle with their promiscuous sins and disrespect for priestly service, all took an evil turn. And young Samuel was warned of God’s arriving judgment which would ensue, “In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them.And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.” (From 1 Samuel chapter 3)

The first act of judgment took place when the ark of the covenant, stationed in Shiloh, was allowed to be removed by Israel’s enemy—the Philistines. The vile, idolatrous Philistines suffered in a humorous way for extracting the ark of the covenant. Please read 1 Samuel chapter 5.

And then came the judging deaths of Hophni and Phinehas as they warred with the Philistines.

Shiloh was destroyed during the time of Samuel. God could have rained down judgment in fire. However, no one knows any details of Shiloh’s slide from existence or its vanishment. Some write the Philistines destroyed Shiloh; however, after God’s judgment fell upon them, they were fearful of nearing Israel during this period in history. We do know God made sure Shiloh left nothing behind.

As I stated, “Shiloh” is another name for Christ Jesus. The Jews Messiah, Shiloh, had to be destroyed too due to all transgressions of mankind.Shiloh will someday stand before all and every person will bow their knee to Him and confess He is LORD.Genesis 49:10 “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.”

God is saying, as Shiloh was destroyed so will be Judah.

Shiloh was a place of worship and God did not spare it even though it bore one of the titles of Christ. Jerusalem will not be spared even though its root meaning is “peace.” Shiloh means tranquility or peace as well.

“You must die!” This is the pronouncement made in the court of the temple, verse 8, upon Jeremiah. The people are all disgruntled for his prophecy of temple destruction. All the people, priests, and prophets are ready to murder Jeremiah for speaking convicting truths.

The woman at the well claimed to have concern for the proper place of worship. She seemed to deem it as being of utmost importance as did these lawless Jews in Jeremiah’s time. In John 4, we observe her concern expressed as she sought Christ’s opinion on where one should worship. (I believe she was attempting to sound super-pious and wanted to change the subject away from herself.) She brings this up as she did not worship at the designated location—Jerusalem, but at Mt. Gerizim in Samaria. She seemed to desire to know if it mattered. Mt. Gerizim was close to where Shiloh once stood. The Samaritan, Gerizim temple was fairly large before its destruction in 128 BC. To this day, 800 Samaritans worship on Mt. Gerizim without a temple, simply among historical, lauding, building remains. And these Samaritans perform the sacrifice of Sheep for Passover on Mt. Gerizim.

Christ informed the Samaritan woman the place of worship was inconsequential as He had come to bring holy change; whereby, the Holy Spirit would dwell within for personal communion. Of course, now, houses of worship are everywhere in the world; a concept incomprehensible to all Jews at this time.

It would have been a scary thing to be in Jeremiah’s shoes at this point, knowing he may soon die for not relenting on God’s Words concerning the temple’s destruction. The judgment of death has been passed by all, but Jeremiah is walking in total strength and not by his might but by the LORD’S might.

Remember, Christ was crucified by the descendants of these Jews because He rightfully called Himself God—He existed before Abraham was—John 8:58. And He is the great “I Am.”

It seems to take little to madden the hearts of men when truth convicts hearts. In 2 Chronicles 24:20-21, we read of the Spirit of God coming upon Zechariah (not the Zechariah of the prophetical book) who was a priest and he foretold the words of God speaking this, “Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD and do not prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD and He has forsaken you.” Then we read “so they conspired against him and at the command of the king, they stoned him to death in the court of the Lord.”

This is the same place where Jeremiah is preaching his prophecy and where Jews currently desire his death.Godly Zechariah died many years previous, during the reign of King Joash, but the same convicting malice lived on.

Christians too can get angry—acutely angry when their worldly ways are exposed as wicked through Scriptural admonishment. They do not kill when they hear strong preaching, but their lips can pour forth much hatred. Almost every godly pastor has received angry words from a parishioner who did not desire strong Bible admonishment from the pulpit. I have been personally amazed at the number of believers who simply desire a social setting which pleases all ears. They will do all they can to keep convicting, inductive teaching out of their church and Sunday school.They will maneuver to change the subject to a worldly, non-threatening topic in a Sunday school class setting. They will even complain to leadership to remove teachers who are on-fire for the Word. They will make excuses such as the teacher didn’t provide enough discussion time because he just taught the Bible or the teacher was taking too much time covering one book.One lady told me she was leaving a church because the pastor was preaching excessively through the book of Revelation. And I will add, he was doing an exceptional job of it.

In verse 10, we witness in mind’s eye, royal officials leaving the king’s palace, where governmental matters transpired, to see what was going on at the temple. They arrive at the New Gate, an entrance heading into the temple area where all this livid hatred was in full swing.It may have resembled a mob scene with loud screaming and yelling being directed at Jeremiah. These officials may have come running after hearing the public uproar.

The accumulated Jews are telling these officials, in verse 11, a death sentence must be handed down from them to Jeremiah. You can envision all the irritated, twisted faces pouring forth these demands in earsplitting, soaring tones.

Jeremiah presents his defense in verse 12, stating he was simply speaking the Words of the LORD . . . “Just speaking the Words of the LORD” can ignite a fuming crowd!

Jeremiah appears not to be afraid here and he is obviously filled with the Holy Spirit as he continues to pour forth truth. He reveals no dread even though his life is held in the balance. He even displays more boldness, verse 13, to further proclaim they must amend their ways and obey God so He will withdraw His demise decree.

These people know the Scriptures; conscious of the fact they are not obeying. But they don’t want to hear it anymore. They have had enough!

Believers today know much of the Scriptures but choose not to obey. They make all excuses for their worldly views and activities. They choose not to be friends with those who are on fire for Christ and His Word. They maintain their own comfort zone of lukewarm associates, oftentimes a clique.

Jeremiah exudes in Christ-likeness in verse 14, submitting to the authorities that be, complying with the words, “I am in your hands; do with me as is good and right in your sight.” Christ too let the religious officials take him as a silent lamb. Christ did not fight with words or fists nor did Jeremiah.

A true man of God, akin to Jeremiah, will possess peace to endure whatever may come when he is standing and not wavering. He prevails, but not in his own strength. Many Christians, up to this present day, have endured great pain, dying in silence for their LORD God at the hands of their persecutors. They trusted their supernatural peace was a witness to their murderers.

In verse 15, Jeremiah places the fear of the LORD into these people, reminding them, if they murder him, he will die in innocence.

He has only been a microphone for his LORD and nothing he has stated has contradicted the Word. God’s judgment falls on the disobedient, hateful heart.Everyone pays for what they do, even believers. Consequences don’t disappear even through forgiveness. An alcoholic may come to Christ, be forgiven, and cease drinking; but it doesn’t automatically heal his body of all consequential, physical disorders. And a murderer may come to Christ while in prison, but it doesn’t open prison doors. It also doesn’t resurrect the murdered victim nor take away the pain of those who still ache from the act.

We do know God can heal our bodies from sinful, chosen activities, though oftentimes He chooses not to so all view there are penalties to every evil action.

If these self-righteous Jews had murdered Jeremiah and later repented of their murderous ways, “misfortune” would still be upon them. It was pre-declared by God.

What Jeremiah has wisely laid-out sinks in their minds, verse 16, as the officials and the people waiver the death sentence. They know their history and the fact their God is to be feared; plus, moving action to this deadly point would only serve their harm.

And how could they forget the fact righteous King Josiah stood with Jeremiah and Jeremiah’s father, High Priest Hilkiah, when Josiah brought revival to the land. And it was Jeremiah who brought lamentation at Josiah’s funeral: “Then Jeremiah chanted a lament for Josiah. And all the male and female singers speak about Josiah in their lamentations to this day. And they made them an ordinance in Israel; behold, they are also written in the Lamentations.” (2 Chronicles 35:25)

These Jews are aware Jeremiah is totally upright and they can’t make any accusations concerning him being unrighteous or evil.

It’s like all the people awakened from a Rip Van Winkle sleep, in verse 18, to the fact that Jeremiah is speaking true words which do not contradict Scriptural records. They could have also cited Moses who was the first one to say if they went after idols, they would be destroyed and the land. They chose, however, to cite a more current prophet, Micah of Morsheth. Micah warned the people in the days of King Hezekiah of Jerusalem’s destruction. They quote Micah 3:12 in this verse. We know this is the same Micah as Micah 1:1 states the Word of the Lord came to Micah of Moresheth.

Micah lived during the period of Isaiah and may have prophesied with him in 2 Chronicles 32:20-22. This is where Hezekiah prayed with Isaiah for Judah’s deliverance from the Assyrians. God answered these humble intercessions and sent an angel who destroyed every totally, equipped Assyrian warrior.Angels are God’s mighty, prevailing, male messengers. We read it only took one to annihilate all!

Fortunately, Micah was one prophet who was not put to death and the people here are obviously glad about it.They, at least, didn’t kill every prophet who spoke God’s Word in convicting truths. Though they persecuted all of them.

The Jews also know, because Micah was spared during King Hezekiah’s days, God didn’t bring “misfortune” against the Jews. They know if they continue down this angry road at this point, they will dreadfully feel the consequences; verse 19.

Church attendees who have dismissed a pastor or teacher because he convicted them through uncompromising Biblical messages certainly paid the consequences in one way or another. God would not overlook such a vile act. I’ve been told of a situation where some people have maneuvered to remove a pastor because they want one who is contemporary or worldly; one who knows how to be styling to bring in more numbers. God sees all and we know from Revelation, He does not overlook the sins of worldly, compromising churches but deals accordingly.

2 Peter, Chapter 2 explains why we must be careful. “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned.” Chapters 2 and 3 of 2 Peter are chapters which we must keep in mind for discernment-sake.

Jeremiah chapter 26, verse 20, takes us to an interesting situation as there seems to be another prophet who was also preaching destruction to Jerusalem. His name was Uriah but instead of standing strong with Jeremiah, this man runs away to Egypt in fear. This causes one to wonder if he was truly called of God and moved in His power or he only preached to gain an audience. The protection of God was not placed on this runaway, being he was put to death by King Jehoiakim (second son of Josiah) who made sure he was sought and found.

And we do not read God spoke through Uriah anywhere. He did speak truth but there is no indication of prophetical calling. He may have been a Jeremiah imitator. Remember, God condemned the prophets who stole each others’ words in Jeremiah 23:30—”Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,” declares the LORD, “who steal My words from each other.” No doubt, this is addressing plagiarism to make it appear as if all have a special communication with God when many did not . . . “I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran. I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.”This is true of liberal preachers today who do not truly believe in the infallibility of the Word of God and its holy and separated callings.

It is interesting Uriah is buried among the common people; God ensured his burial was not honorable; chapter 26, verse 23. We will know for sure the man’s motive when we reach heaven and learn all things. ( 1 Corinthians 13:10—“but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.”)

We see God’s protection continuously upon Jeremiah, His true called spokesman. God employed Abikam, an influential government official, to keep Jeremiah from the Jews who desired to slay him rather than be convicted of sin; verse 24. Ahikam is the hero of this chapter.

God held His protective hand over Jeremiah as He revealed He would from the beginning of Jeremiah’s calling.